Back in the Basement
I've returned to my cupboard in the Stormont basement, playing catch up on all I have missed - a DUP rethink on double jobbing, a £20 million payment for the part time reserve and a row over replacing the Parades Commission.
Double jobbing should be back in the news tomorrow when Sir Christopher Kelly publishes his report on MPs' expenses. The report will have a specific Northern Ireland chapter, and the rumour here is that he may recommend a five year phasing out of dual mandates. There are also suggestions that Sinn Fein's abstentionist allowances may come under pressure. Sir Christopher's proposals on the employment of family members have been well trailed elsewhere, but should have particular resonance here.
The behind the scenes talks about devolving justice go on. The Assembly Committee which looks after policing and justice is inviting the First and Deputy First Ministers to give it evidence next week and it's they may also be looking for a meeting with Lord Ashdown on his parades proposals. It's also putting a motion before the main Assembly calling on Shaun Woodward to provide the committee with any memoranda of understanding and protocols related to national security - something the Committee has been looking for unsuccessfully for some time.
I'm told work is still continuing on the precise powers and independence of a future Justice Minister visa-vis the rest of the Executive. There are also discussions about how the minister should be appointed. It's already been settled that the nominee should get cross community support, but should that amount to an effective coronation of the Alliance party or should the Assembly go through the process of voting for a series of candidates from different parties before arriving at the same destination?
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You should drag Ian mcCrea, his Father and Gregory Campbell down there and lock them in a dark room for a while, might put manners on them!!
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I've repeatedly been hearing in the press about the political wife-swapping that is expected to take place in the aftermath of the Kelly report ie a politican's family no longer works for them, but instead swaps and works for another politician instead. How does this benefit anyone?
Also, would someone mind explaining to me how it can be legal for the role of policing and justice to go to the Alliance party? SDLP is next in line for a ministerial position, so surely it is illegal for the post to go elsewhere?
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Patrick
Depriving the SDLP of its entitlement to the Justice Ministry is just another example of the marginalization of other parties by the dominant Fascist duopoly. That fate awaits the Alliance Party if it were stupid enough to take on the Justice Ministry.
Fascists Rule, OK?
Susie
Carryduff
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Patrick / Susie,
Why should we trust the SDLP with the Justice post? On the other hand why should we trust the Alliance with the Justice post? As we have seen time and time again nobody in our Assembly is fit for Government.
Mark,
If the DUP is serious about ending double jobbing why did they do a massive U-Turn on the issue. Peter Robinson resigned from Castlereagh Council when he became the Finance Minister in May 2007 as he said it would be a conflict of interest. Sammy Wilson who is now the present Finance Minister remains on Belfast council. Surely the DUP needs to clean up its act before Jim Allister passes him as the largest Unionist party. If Jim Allister was ever the leader of the largest unionist party but not the leader of the largest party in Northern Ireland who Jim sit as Deputy First Minister to Sinn Fein?
Stormontspy
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Stormont
PERFECT SUMMATION
Your first paragraph is an apt précis of the worth of this Assembly of headbangers.
Susie
Carryduff
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The DUP's rethink on double jobbing wouldn't have anything to do with Robinson realizing that without the big guns, they will lose heavily next year?
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