And so the end is near….

AND so the end is near, but this Assembly term may not be facing the final curtain.

You see regrets, there’s been a few, and of rows in the chamber, we were certain.

We’ve enjoyed education fights, argued over walking on every highway.

But more, much more than this…they might have to stay!

With apologies to Mr Sinatra, just when our MLAs thought they were skipping town for the summer recess, it seems that the final curtain is not to be drawn over the summer term at Parliament Buildings. And it all comes down to money.

It seems that with all the talk of tight fiscal rounds, cutbacks and facing the global economic downturn the bean counters in the government departments have managed not to spend huge wads of taxpayer’s money.

And so, the Executive is set to agree to a special sitting on Tuesday for all the MLAs to gather round and have a good natter about what to do with the cash.

Of course, rumours that the expenses to be claimed by MLAs for attending an extra sitting will help hoover up the extra cash are entirely unfounded. Although it is a fair bet that amidst the welter of bids for pet projects, dealing with swine flu, may have first call on any extra money. And Health Minister McGimpsey will be the first in line.

Can you say Hallelujah?

C’MON let me hear a Hallelujah for devolution! I can’t hear you at the back! One more Hallelujah for devolution!

First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson has said his new Ministerial team will be spreading the gospel of devolution to prevent devolution being downed by wreckers using terrorism or politics…

Nothing to do with those carelessly lost 60,000+ votes at the European poll of course.

So the lean mean devolution machine of Robbo, Edwin Poots, Arlene Foster, Nelson McCausland, Robin Newton and Sammy Wilson are about to preach the Gospel of Devolution, from the Book of Expenses, Chapter three, verses one through eight (those are the ones with the ministerial salaries in them).

Jilted at the political altar?

IT seems that since Sammy Wilson has left the Assembly’s Education Committee he can’t get enough of slagging off fellow minister, Catriona Ruane. Does Sammy feel jilted now he can’t see Ms Ruane every Wednesday morning in committee?

Certainly Ms Ruane seems inclined to reject any further advances from Mr Wilson. She flatly refused to have a ‘meeting’ with Sammy, invoking an ire more fierce than any jilted lover could cause…well not that bad, but bad enough for him to take to the airwaves.

Sammy wanted to meet Catriona. Catriona said no. Sammy said it was about a constituency affair. Catriona said it was because Sammy used a go-between (a.k.a. Private Secretary).

Sammy said he asked her face-to-face why he was being stood up. She said send me a letter.

Looking on MLAs and school representatives wondered could cupid’s bow ever unite these star-crossed politicians…and will we ever see the DUP and Sinn Féin ever agreeing on anything to do with education!

Meanwhile…thousands of children are studying for unapproved post-primary transfer exams, grammar schools are wondering how they’re going to sort this out, Transfer 2010 is getting lost in the rows and weary news producers are wondering how they will cope without the education bickering over the summer.

Jilted at the political altar?

IT seems that since Sammy Wilson has left the Assembly’s Education Committee he can’t get enough of slagging off fellow minister, Catriona Ruane. Does Sammy feel jilted now he can’t see Ms Ruane every Wednesday morning in committee?

Certainly Ms Ruane seems inclined to reject any further advances from Mr Wilson. She flatly refused to have a ‘meeting’ with Sammy, invoking an ire more fierce than any jilted lover could cause…well not that bad, but bad enough for him to take to the airwaves.

Sammy wanted to meet Catriona. Catriona said no. Sammy said it was about a constituency affair. Catriona said it was because Sammy used a go-between (a.k.a. Private Secretary).

Sammy said he asked her face-to-face why he was being stood up. She said send me a letter.

Looking on MLAs and school representatives wondered could cupid’s bow ever unite these star-crossed politicians…and will we ever see the DUP and Sinn Féin ever agreeing on anything to do with education!

Meanwhile…thousands of children are studying for unapproved post-primary transfer exams, grammar schools are wondering how they’re going to sort this out, Transfer 2010 is getting lost in the rows and weary news producers are wondering how they will cope without the education bickering over the summer.

Let’s charge the plastic

MLAs have agreed to charge for plastic. No, it’s not the latest scam for politicians to get credit card expenses! Instead, MLAs look set to bring forward legislation to make us pay if we want plastic bags when we pick up our groceries.

Such was the announcement from new Environment Minister, Edwin Poots.

And a few moments after he said it, Sinn Féin MLA Dathai McKay posted a tweet on his Twitter (yes some MLAs have heard of this new fangled interweb thing!) saying he only had to mention it and the new Environment boss was welcoming the proposal. Dathai had earlier suggested to his fellow members on the Environment Committee that introducing such legislation was a good idea.

A rare show of solidarity…

It’s a pity that it’s really about catching up and a little bit of plastic envy.

There’s a levy in the Republic of Ireland on those pesky plastic shopping bags. The Welsh Assembly announced a similar levy this week. Marks and Spencer charge for the one use plastic bags…even Spar are trailing a tax on plastic bags.

Nice to see our forward thinking MLAs are trying to keep up with the environmental trends.

Making your mind up

ECHOING the words of the Bucks Fizz Eurovision song, deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness says its time for ‘making your mind up’ about the devolution of policing and justice powers.

In a confusing and bizarre round of talks, non-talks, phone calls and planned meetings for next week, McGuinness met Gordon Brown without Peter Robinson. Peter Robinson spokespeople said he knew nothing about it and couldn’t go anyway. Then Robbo called Gordon Brown. The First Minister said he was meeting the PM next week.

Is the British Government going to be forthcoming in helping foot the bill for policing and justice (court costs, PSNI wages, PSNI compensation, legal aid for ex-terrorists, legal aid for ex-members of the security forces, use of Tasers, issuing anti-social behaviour orders etc etc etc)? Brown has stayed uncharacteristically quiet on the matter.

In short, devolution of policing and justice is going to happen. It may be a short time before it happens. It may be a long time before it happens. There may be money to help with the transfer of powers. There may not be money to pay for the transfer.

There might even be a new minister for policing and justice.

So it might be ‘Making our Mind Up time’ soon, but Bucks Fizz also had a song called ‘The Land of Make Believe’.

Fast acting

FAST ACTING ASSEMBLY SHOCK! Hold the front pages. The Assembly has moved swiftly to do something!

On Tuesday, Speaker Willie Hay said that the Assembly will be publishing MLA expenses dating back to 2003.

Within a few short hours, the years and years of expenses were easy to find on the Assembly website (previously you had to be pretty determined with your web browsing!).

And, Hay has promised that by November the detailed breakdown of the expenses will be published.

As to whether they are to be redacted for ‘members’ security/blushes’ or not has not yet been revealed. Whether there will be a Freedom of Information request and a leak/sale to a newspaper hasn’t been revealed yet either.

Whether any journalists will scoff at responses to their queries from MLAs remains to be seen. Stephen Nolan has reportedly been told by BBC bosses not to book any leave around November.

Double jobbing end in sight

SIR Christopher Kelly’s inquiry into double jobbing and some MPs generally scandalous expenses claims landed in Belfast. No other part of the UK is being visited. Sir Christopher told interviewers that this was because of Northern Ireland’s special circumstances. Just hope that we don’t have to wait for an assessment on how special we are, as assessments for special needs here can take ages. No doubt Sinn Féin say that’s the DUP’s fault, while the DUP says its Sinn Féin’s fault.

Perhaps when Sir Christopher finishes with the MPs expenses issue, he might come to Northern Ireland with an inquiry as to the shambles that is anything to do with education, and then perhaps pupils will be back at the centre of the political agenda rather than a side show for the political Punch and Judy routine.