Oh dearie dearie me
WELL here we are at the end of the summer, a summer
of rain, sodden streets, wet fields and what do you know but we have used all
the excess water to fill up the water cannons and soak the streets and gathered
masses of unruly yobs some more. The PSNI must have decided that all the water
had to be used some way.
Or was it the petrol bombs they were trying to
extinguish...
What a wonderful sight, rioting returning to Belfast's
streets for the traditional three-day period. It's just like Ardoyne in July:
rioters ready, on you marks and you have 72 hours to create chaos, and then
your time is up.
But who fired the starting pistol? Was it a bunch of
idiots in band uniforms? Was it the marchers who decided to follow on? Was it
the groups determined to take offence? Was it the politicians of all hues who
think that once they let their jaws spring open yobs would take a hint even
when one was not explicitly given?
Ahh! There's the rub. The political leaders. There now
tends to be an inclination to make sure that leadership gets thrown to the side
until the proverbial is flying from the fan, splattering the reputation of Norn
Iron.
If we were major investors would we take the risk? If
we were entrepreneurs would we even consider that 99% of the population were
going about their business but avoiding the flash point? No, we'd be off like
rabbits at the sound of the farmer's gun to the safety of an area where our
base would not be portrayed as some pseudo-war zone.
Will the Norn Iron Executive have the will to get on
the streets and work their over-inflated behinds rather than their
over-inflated egos?
The Executive, for all its failings has done so much
right, stumbling through their mini-crises and even managing to pass the odd
bit of legislation. Many will not have agreed with what they have done, but at
least they have 'done' something.With another major parade just around the corner, if you'll excuse the pun, it is now necessary for the Norn Iron Executive to get out from behind the behind doors meetings and the staged press conferences and get working with the aggrieved, the disillusioned and the disenchanted; and not just think that you can throw money and platitudes at the problem.
Leadership and hard work can, and will, resolve the issues. Posturing will not. We look forward to the soft sound of sleeves being rolled up and the quiet, calm work that can solve problems, not make them worse.
That’s right, rights are all up the left
MORE
than 14 years since first conceived in the heady, hallucinogenic airs that
wafted around the Good Friday Agreement, the Norn Iron Bill of Rights is no
nearer to resting at ease on the statute books.
And
the Norn Iron Human Rights Commission - the body given the job to bring
about said Bill of Rights knows where to place the blame – those dreaded and
dastardly ‘g’ men; the be-suited gents [Editor’s note: ‘And ladies!’] of
government.
Four
years ago the Human Rights Commission presented its recommendations for a Bill
of Rights to the government at Westminster, where it has not exactly been top
of the government’s reading pile.
After
the various machinations since 1998, the chances of the Bill of Rights
receiving an enthusiastic response have been not exactly great. Whether it be
unionist intransigence, nationalist obduracy , or just plain awkwardness, the
Bill has languished in the ‘to do’ pile for quite some time, but not as long as
the 10 years it took to get recommendations to government.
And
here is where we think the Human Rights Commission missed a trick: they had no
specific constituency to appeal to. Not children, not pensioner, not victims –
just sort of everyone.
Had
they any sense they would have said this week: “The Bill of Rights will
establish in law the right to parade, the right to object to parades and the
right to up to, but not including, three full days of rioting.”It would have been gained the necessary political support quicker than a caller to The Nolan Show can express indignation about something or another that they think they are indignant about.
Welcome
Theresa!
AS
Cabinet re-shuffles go, it was not the most inspiring or drastic, but we were
all delighted to see the former Transport Minister and Euro-Sceptic Theresa
Villiers toddle across the North Channel to become Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland.
Ms
Villiers may see this as only a slight promotion, but she may also see it as a
chance to shine at a time when there is a need for leadership in Northern
Ireland.Or, as she looked at TV news bulletins of riots on the streets she may just have said…well as responsible columnists we would never repeat such language…
Ms
Villiers is a former barrister and was an MEP before becoming MP for Chipping
Barnet. Quite how she’ll be welcomed by Executive parties remains to be seen.
Owen Paterson, for all his good intentions and congeniality did have, at times,
a tendency to open his mouth to change feet. Thought by many to be a ‘good’
Secretary of State, outstanding matters had begun to pile up on his desk.
Like
Corporation Tax varying powers.
Ms
Villiers’ position on Corporation Tax reductions may or may not be sympathetic,
but as with Mr Paterson her hands will be tied by the Treasury. Whether
her legal brain can be applied to this Gordian Knot remains to be seen, but as
a former Transport Minister perhaps she can advise us all on how to avoid the
latest roadwork’s.
By
her side will be ex-British army man Mike Penning as a Minister in the Norn
Iron Office. Mr Penning served in the Grenadier Guards, including time in
Northern Ireland. Whether patrolling in a Land Rover or time in barracks will
give him any real insight remains to be seen.
But
as a former political journalist he may be able to correct local hacks grammar.
While
both are no doubt capable MPs, and one hopes also capable ministers, we do
wonder why anyone would want to be at the NIO? And how many said ‘no’ before Ms
Villiers agreed.
Of
course, it is the chance to shine? Owen Paterson may be grateful to be promoted
to DEFRA as secretary of State but what other incentive is there.
