451
That's the number of issues on which Peter Robinson says the current Executive has agreed. In a speech on the Justice Bill last month, the First Minister claimed this far exceeded the 320 agreements achieved in the old UUP-SDLP led Executive.
So the UUP's George Savage asked Mr Robinson to list the 451 issues and all those matters on which the current Executuve has not agreed. At the start of the month he got the same answer to both questions: "It is not our practice to disclose details of Executive business. The content of Executive papers and all aspects of Executive business are confidential."
Mr Savage is now awaiting a reply to a follow up question wondering whether the First Minister's original comment amounted to a breach of Executive confidentiality.
During a fairly quiet day at Stormont, the First Minister did get in a little dig on the UUP's Danny Kennedy. Mr Kennedy had declared an interest before asking a question about the Presbyerian Mutual Society. The UUP Deputy Leader told MLAs he had a modest investment in the PMS. Mr Robinson responded that this was the only modest thing about him.
In the body of his answer, the First Minister floated the idea of the troubled PMS being linked to a local bank, if the regulatory obstacles can be overcome. So which bank might be in the frame - could it be the Ulster, whose staff appear extremely concerned about management proposals to downgrade their terms and conditions, the Northern, or one of the other High Street banks?
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Mark,
Why is there this veil of secrecy around executive meetings? How can we hold minister accountable to the public if we're not allowed to hear what they talk about at meetings?
Surely the executive doesn't consider itself part of some upper echelon of politics which makes them supreme.
It doesn't sound all too democratic to me!
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Mark
[This entry is way off the main ski slope but it's important in terms of the Libyan compensation issue vis a vis victims of IRA atrocities. Please note that just in case Colonel Qadhafi does not read the Devenport Diaries I have also sent this letter to The Tripoli Post.]
OPEN LETTER TO LIBYA REVOLUTIONARY LEADER COLONEL MUAMMAR ABU MINYAR AL-QADHAFI
Dear Colonel Qadhafi
VISIT TO LIBYA BY UK MPS SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR IRA VICTIMS
Under your leadership, Libya is now in an age of enlightenment but in darker days, Libya supplied guns and explosives to the IRA during the Northern Ireland Troubles. In that regard you will know that a delegation of UK MPs has been invited to Libya to discuss possible compensation for the families of IRA victims.
The delegation will comprise Labour and Conservative MPs and some members of the House of Lords. It will include two MPs from Northern Ireland who also sit in the Northern Ireland Assembly. They are Messrs Nigel Dodds and Jeffrey Donaldson, members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). I wish to draw your attention to their brass-necked, hypocritical and disingenuous stance in relation to innocent victims of IRA terrorism and urge you to be cautious in your dealings with this pair.
BACKGROUND
Reputedly, Northern Ireland is now operating on a basis of political power-sharing in the Northern Ireland Assembly; everyone and his dog are represented: genuine politicians (few in number), charlatans, gangsters, paramilitaries & outright terrorists as well as a miscellany of independent eccentrics. So far, so good!
The problem stems from the position adopted by the two main parties, viz Sinn Féin (inextricably linked to the IRA) & the DUP who are ruling the roost. They are now involved in a Fascist Coalition that brooks no argument with the other Parties that are supposed to share in the running of NI. They bully, they coerce, they steamroller everything in the way that Fascists do.
ISSUES ARISING FOR LIBYA
I know that you, leader of a democratic country, will agree to pay compensation. I urge you to make it clear to the two NI members, who are at the heart of the Fascist Coalition, that you will impose two pre-conditions before payment is made.
PRE-CONDITION 1: Given that the DUP are locked into a two-Party Fascist Coalition with Sinn Féin, who are inextricably linked to the IRA who caused the misery, mayhem and suffering that was inflicted on IRA victims, Libya will only agree to make compensatory payments on the basis that the DUP seeks, in the first instance, financial compensation from Sinn Féin by launching legal action against them in the British Courts.
PRE-CONDITION 2: On discharge of Pre-Condition 1, Libya will impose final approval on the framework, process and mechanics for disbursement of compensatory monies for IRA victims. In so doing, The People's Republic of Libya will help to ensure that unsavoury elements within the NI Assembly, local councils, community groups, paramilitary groups and religious organisations do not divert monies for their own nefarious purposes.
Again I urge you to be vigilant and circumspect in your dealings with the DUP who have taken duplicity to new heights in order to enter into an unholy alliance with Sinn Fein.
Your willingness to come to an arrangement on the compensation question does you great credit. Let me wish your great country much prosperity in the future under your wise and benign leadership. I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability.
Allah is Great!
Yours sincerely
Susie Flood
[Personal details removed by Moderator]
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Mark,
This story is a bit rich by the BBC's standards. Who is the leak in the executive? Who give the BBC the MLA's expenses disc to the BBC?
Stormontspy
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Susie
Trying to get my heid around your rant ???
What do you see,that we don't !!!
Information please !!!
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Your rant of:-
I salute your courage,your'e strength,
your indefatigatigabilty(SPELLING) etc etc.
How rancid is your rant ???
Time to move on !!!
Say "hellow" to Stormontspy !!!
Things can only get better !!
Eh? Mark and his minders !!!
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Susie,
Congratulations for yet another post that hits the nail firmly on the head.
If you put the name Peter Robinson into wikipedia it comes up with various Peter Robinson's one of which is a sideshow artist.
The Peter Robinson this leader of this sham executive it seems is comfortable sitting with the likes of Sinn Fein as he has a history of it.
In November 1986, he spoke at the Ulster Hall demonstration which launched Ulster Resistance, an organisation which subsequently collaborated with the Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Volunteer Force to import arms from South Africa, resulting in Robinson leaving the organisation. Robinson was photographed wearing the loyalist paramilitary military uniform at an Ulster Resistance demonstration.
It is a surprise that the country is on the road to ruins.
Stormontspy
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I think you had a typo there Susie:
"They are Messrs Nigel Dodds and Jeffrey Donaldson, members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)."
should be
Mess[e]rs
;)
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