Government by correspondence
So nothing happened, unless you count "informal gatherings" of ministers as a substitute for the real McCoy. It looks like we might be entering a phase of government by correspondence, in which policies are pushed through via the "urgent procedure". That's the way Martin McGuinness suggested Margaret Ritchie's fuel poverty package should be implemented. The DUP balked, claiming the procedure would be invalid when an Executive meeting was already scheduled. But with no meeting pencilled in until early next month, Peter Robinson now seems prepared to countenance such urgent measures. Ministers corresponding in writing, empty chairs at Executive meetings. It all sounds vaguely familiar.
The image of the day was Margaret Ritchie walking down the Stormont Castle steps flanked by the two unionist leaders. Was she wise? Her calculation must be that nationalist voters will view her as the minister trying to tackle the bread and butter issues. But Martin McGuinness was quick to link the image to Mark Durkan's recent speech on the "ugly scaffolding" at Stormont. However much the SDLP leader denies it, the Sinn Fein tactic is to portray his party as flaky on the Good Friday Agreement.
How long will the deaqdlock persist and will the two governments step in with a fresh round of inter party talks? At the start of the day Shaun Woodward continued to argue that the glass was half full rather than half empty, but London and Dublin will be anxious to ensure the Stormont arrangement does not unravel. The DUP will be reluctant to be "hot housed" into a devolution of justice timetable, so if the governnments decide to intervene they will have to be more subtle than Gordon Brown during this week's visit to Stormont.
I'm 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~42~RS~)
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Mark,
The next time you see Shaun Woodward or the PM would you give him a message from the people of N. Ireland. We are fed up with our MLA's and want real representation on real issues. On a day when the other parties are trying to get on with business Sinn Fein are delaying things again. Why? For the sake of Policing and Justice. Is this the same Policing and Justice that were killed and injured during the troubles? All throughout the troubles McGuiness and co would not even recognise the courts. After being caught with a bomb he refused to recognize the court, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment. In the court he declared his membership of the Provisional Irish Republican Army without equivocation: 'We have fought against the killing of our people... I am a member of Óglaigh na hÉireann and very, very proud of it'. Now he is trying to be a champion for Policing and Justice. When he is asked why he will not allow the executive to meet he has a dig at Margaret Ritchie for meeting with other Political Parties. It is good that for once in her political life she is providing proper representation but whoever if anyone did advice Margaret to appear in a photo shoot between "Robbo" and "Boomerang Empey" was a disaster. This shows the people that again the SDLP are being led up a cul de sac by Mark Durkan. I think it is time for the SDLP to get a new leader. The recent by election in Fermanagh explains why.
Stormontspy
P.S. It is extremely funny that on OFMDFM website there is a link to promote "European Year of Intercultural Dialogue"
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I don't know what is in the fuel poverty package but I am relieved to know that one problem is being recoginised.
There are big problems now that need our MP's attention.
Multitask please.
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No North South Meeting
As the credit crunch bites in Dublin the national development plan spending is to be reviewed if the budget for the joint cancer center in Derry is affected, the spin doctors will have a hard time excusing this months meeting not going ahead.
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The Sinn Fein misrepresentation of Durkan's Oxford speech is not based on fact. Last night for example Gerry Kelly claimed on Hearts and Minds that the SDLP wanted as return to majority rule - simply not true.
I have been following the US elections closely and note that journalists will always correct politicians when they are making false claims.
Do you think we will see this emerge here? Have blogged on this on www.oconallstreet.com
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Following the result of the Enniskillen by-election I believe that we will now see the DUP/Sinn Fein alliance cut a deal on Policing and Justice.
The DUP will take Arlene Foster's re-election as proof that they can sill hold the vote despite working with 'the shinners', while Sinn Fein will no doubt notice the dramatic drop in the nationalist vote and want to play hard ball. Therefore, a deal suits both parties.
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Fermanagh Unionist,
Are you suggesting that because the DUP won the recent by election they will jump straight in to Policing and Justice? That is the sort of thing the UUP do especially "Boomerang Empey" but no one else will. A deal on Policing and Justice has been agreed in principle it is just a question of when.
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Government by correspondences is sometimes a good thing...
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