Pity the poor planning officials; first there was the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre row, then there was the PPS14 debacle, then came the John Lewis Sprucefield fiasco. They must have thought that 2009 should provide a quieter 12 months.
That was until Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson spoke out on Monday and he wasn’t exactly holding back.
His own officials were in the firing line for rejecting an application for a high rise development on Belfast ’s Great Victoria Street .
The 390m Aurora Building project got the rejection stamp because officials said it "did not pay due regard to the character of the site and the surrounding area".
Wilson, their boss, said the 37-storey development would have real economic benefits for the city and claimed that his officials in planning had scuppered it.
This, of course drew the ire of public service trades union NIPSA, and led, for once to officials saying, ‘No, Minister’. Wilson is hoping that when it comes to the planning appeal officials will remember the BBC programme and say loudly and clearly ‘Yes, Minister’.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Friday, 9 January 2009
20 year service badge
IT has been all change this week in Sinn Féin, with the party announcing that long serving vice president Pat Doherty is to stand down as part of a proposed reshuffle.
The East Tyrone MP and MLA – who will continue to represent the constituency - held the post for 20 years. Dublin MEP, Mary Lou McDonald will stand for election as vice president during next month’s Ard Fhéis.
While local focus was on Doherty’s stepping down from the prominent post, new faces at the proposed new Sinn Féin top table will see more Republic of Ireland representatives.
Gerry Adams paid tribute to Pat Doherty’s contribution as party vice president, while at the same time it emerged that Adams would be once again standing for party president.
Of the new faces, in addition to McDonald, Declan Kearney will run for party chairperson, Dawn Doyle for general secretary and Maurice Quinlivan and Rita O'Hare as joint party treasurers.
The East Tyrone MP and MLA – who will continue to represent the constituency - held the post for 20 years. Dublin MEP, Mary Lou McDonald will stand for election as vice president during next month’s Ard Fhéis.
While local focus was on Doherty’s stepping down from the prominent post, new faces at the proposed new Sinn Féin top table will see more Republic of Ireland representatives.
Gerry Adams paid tribute to Pat Doherty’s contribution as party vice president, while at the same time it emerged that Adams would be once again standing for party president.
Of the new faces, in addition to McDonald, Declan Kearney will run for party chairperson, Dawn Doyle for general secretary and Maurice Quinlivan and Rita O'Hare as joint party treasurers.
We won’t forget…
US Special envoy, Paula Dobriansky was this week on her farewell tour to Northern Ireland.
She promised that when President George W Bush steps aside for Barack Obama, Washington will continue to be committed to ‘wee Norn Iron’.
Ms Dobriansky said the US has always had a great interest in Northern Ireland and the positivity was pouring as she said that despite the global economic downturn Northern Ireland had a lot to offer.
While some might question whether Obama will have any time after his inauguration on 20 January to remember Northern Ireland faced, as he is, with the chaos surrounding Gaza, Ms Dobriansky said that the Northern Ireland experience could be applied…well at least our politicians only fire words at each other.
She promised that when President George W Bush steps aside for Barack Obama, Washington will continue to be committed to ‘wee Norn Iron’.
Ms Dobriansky said the US has always had a great interest in Northern Ireland and the positivity was pouring as she said that despite the global economic downturn Northern Ireland had a lot to offer.
While some might question whether Obama will have any time after his inauguration on 20 January to remember Northern Ireland faced, as he is, with the chaos surrounding Gaza, Ms Dobriansky said that the Northern Ireland experience could be applied…well at least our politicians only fire words at each other.
I’ll take your quarter and raise you three quarters
WITH the rows over the Finance Bill and Margaret Ritchie claiming her social housing budget had been raided, Minister Ritchie announced some good news for Housing Executive tenants who will be allowed to buy their homes in stages rather in one lump sum.
As house prices soared during 2006 and 2007 before last year’s slump, many tenants had been unable to make the leap to being homeowners.
As Ritchie was making the announcement on the House Sales Scheme, DUP and Sinn Féin were continuing their sniping, reminding Ms Ritchie that under the previous Executive, SDLP ministers were telling everybody else that consensual Government meant everyone should be abiding by the consensus.
They were, of course, implying that it was non-DUP Sinn Féin members that were the Executive seat holders not in consensus.
Whether it was a tactic to distract from the social housing announcement is, of course, open to interpretation. Suffice to say that tenants can now, after five years start buying their homes with a 25% initial stake, rising to 100% in increments of 5%.
Of course this raises the question as to who is going to lend anyone money in the current credit crunch and, after five years will MLAs be able to start buying Stormont?
As house prices soared during 2006 and 2007 before last year’s slump, many tenants had been unable to make the leap to being homeowners.
As Ritchie was making the announcement on the House Sales Scheme, DUP and Sinn Féin were continuing their sniping, reminding Ms Ritchie that under the previous Executive, SDLP ministers were telling everybody else that consensual Government meant everyone should be abiding by the consensus.
They were, of course, implying that it was non-DUP Sinn Féin members that were the Executive seat holders not in consensus.
Whether it was a tactic to distract from the social housing announcement is, of course, open to interpretation. Suffice to say that tenants can now, after five years start buying their homes with a 25% initial stake, rising to 100% in increments of 5%.
Of course this raises the question as to who is going to lend anyone money in the current credit crunch and, after five years will MLAs be able to start buying Stormont?
Ah for blogs sake!
Politicians in Northern Ireland are taking on board the lesson of Barack Obama in terms of grass roots campaigning in cyberspace.
The blogosphere is now choc-a-bloc with Northern Ireland politicians launching blogs. Renowned political blogs Slugger O’Toole (Mick Fealty) and The Devenport Diaries (BBC’s Mark Devenport) this week noted the entry into the blogosphere of Gerry Adams.
Also notable are Sammy Wilson’s Youtube diaries, which come alongside Dathai McKay’s request for the Assembly proceedings to go on to Youtube.
As if this wasn’t enough, we caution you when joining the social network site Facebook. Do not add a politician or a political party member as a ‘friend’. You will, very shortly find every politician in Northern Ireland adding you to their friend list. Of course, for political anoraks out there this may just be what you are waiting for!
The blogosphere is now choc-a-bloc with Northern Ireland politicians launching blogs. Renowned political blogs Slugger O’Toole (Mick Fealty) and The Devenport Diaries (BBC’s Mark Devenport) this week noted the entry into the blogosphere of Gerry Adams.
Also notable are Sammy Wilson’s Youtube diaries, which come alongside Dathai McKay’s request for the Assembly proceedings to go on to Youtube.
As if this wasn’t enough, we caution you when joining the social network site Facebook. Do not add a politician or a political party member as a ‘friend’. You will, very shortly find every politician in Northern Ireland adding you to their friend list. Of course, for political anoraks out there this may just be what you are waiting for!
Delaying the devolving
With the row over devolution of policing and justice parked for a while, the Assembly and Executive Review Committee is considering reports on the matter.
Member Jimmy Spratt said the committee’s work was ongoing with a report being considered and a second phase underway.
Alex Attwood, also a member, claimed that Sinn Féin and the DUP were stalling, and devolution of these powers could wait no longer.
Whether this means that at some future stage the issue will once again rear its head to cause an Executive stumble is unknown by all, but the longer the Committee deliberates the longer the DUP and Sinn Féin have to come up with an acceptable compromise for their constituencies.
And this doesn’t just mean nominating an Alliance Party member as justice minister – more the message that is palatable to party activists.
What’s the betting that the timing of this one is held until just after the European election; preserving the DUP’s line from Traditional Unionist Voice allegations of sell-out and keeping the Sinn Féin core support bought in?
Member Jimmy Spratt said the committee’s work was ongoing with a report being considered and a second phase underway.
Alex Attwood, also a member, claimed that Sinn Féin and the DUP were stalling, and devolution of these powers could wait no longer.
Whether this means that at some future stage the issue will once again rear its head to cause an Executive stumble is unknown by all, but the longer the Committee deliberates the longer the DUP and Sinn Féin have to come up with an acceptable compromise for their constituencies.
And this doesn’t just mean nominating an Alliance Party member as justice minister – more the message that is palatable to party activists.
What’s the betting that the timing of this one is held until just after the European election; preserving the DUP’s line from Traditional Unionist Voice allegations of sell-out and keeping the Sinn Féin core support bought in?
Just as it warms up
Just as the frosty weather clears for warm, wet and windy spells the Assembly will hear and finalise the details of the £15 million fuel poverty package on Monday for vulnerable Northern Ireland households.
Last week the Junior Ministers, Jeffrey Donaldson and Gerry Kelly met the Committee of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to get members’ buy-in.
Perhaps stung by criticism over the delays during the Executive’s huff, the two minsiters were keen to tell all that the fuel poverty was a deal that showed how the Executive could respond to situations.
Okay, we’ll not mention that heating fuel and petrol prices are at a three year low, compared to when the clamour for Assembly action was at its highest, and we can but hope that vulnerable households get this pay-out as soon as possible. It is a reminder, of course, that like the social security cold weather pay-out, sometimes support can come a little late.
Freezing temperatures across the UK triggered the pay-outs this week, but the extra cash only comes after consecutive days of sub-zero or near zero temperatures. And it does not take account in the temperature estimates of wind chill.
Which members will remember to mention these facts during Monday’s debate?
Last week the Junior Ministers, Jeffrey Donaldson and Gerry Kelly met the Committee of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to get members’ buy-in.
Perhaps stung by criticism over the delays during the Executive’s huff, the two minsiters were keen to tell all that the fuel poverty was a deal that showed how the Executive could respond to situations.
Okay, we’ll not mention that heating fuel and petrol prices are at a three year low, compared to when the clamour for Assembly action was at its highest, and we can but hope that vulnerable households get this pay-out as soon as possible. It is a reminder, of course, that like the social security cold weather pay-out, sometimes support can come a little late.
Freezing temperatures across the UK triggered the pay-outs this week, but the extra cash only comes after consecutive days of sub-zero or near zero temperatures. And it does not take account in the temperature estimates of wind chill.
Which members will remember to mention these facts during Monday’s debate?
And finally…
As his term of office draws to a close it is timely to remind ourselves of the phrases decimated and even created by President George W Bush’s singular grasp of the English language. Gems include:
· "They misunderestimated me."
· "I think war is a dangerous place."
· "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
· "It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it."
· "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
But there was one phrase, much quoted in these final hours of residency in the White House that many politicians, if they were being honest wished they had in store when stepping down:
"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."
· "They misunderestimated me."
· "I think war is a dangerous place."
· "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
· "It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it."
· "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
But there was one phrase, much quoted in these final hours of residency in the White House that many politicians, if they were being honest wished they had in store when stepping down:
"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."
Friday, 2 January 2009
Farewell to 2008
A Happy New Year to our readers. As usual we’ll be keeping you updated with the weekly happenings in the maelstrom we call Northern Ireland politics.
And what a maelstrom 2008 was on the political front! As we look forward the next 12 months, below is a brief reminder of the highlights of the last 52 weeks.
January saw the row over who was to be Victim’s Commissioner resolved. The new Commissioner was to be…Mike Nesbitt, Patricia McBride, Bertha McDougall and Brendan McAllister.
In February, pressure mounted on Ian Paisley Junior over alleged financial links with property developers leading to his eventually resigning his Junior Minister post in OFMDFM.
With the gossip filled corridors of Stormont chattering about the Paisley dynasty, the Big Man of Northern Ireland politics, DUP leader and First Minister, Ian Paisley announced he too was resigning.
In April, another giant of Irish politics, and recent friend of Paisley, Bertie Ahern, told a surprised press conference (and even more surprised party colleagues) he was standing down.
May saw a first in many ways when Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness visited a PSNI officer in hospital after the officer was injured in a explosion caused by a dissident republican undercar booby trap bomb.
The same month saw the major development in the Northern Ireland political landscape… Belfast’s former Miss Great Britian, Gemma Garrett, stood in the Crewe in Nantwich by-election as a representative of the Beauties for Britain Party. Unfortunately she only secured 113 votes - proving that Britain wasn’t ready for beauty.
In June the giggle duo were replaced by the Business Brothers as Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness swore to knuckle down to getting Northern Ireland in shape…and within weeks fell out over the devolving of policing and justice, then Irish Language Act etc, etc.
Dubya (US President George W Bush) breezed into the country to tell us “Northern Ireland is a success story”.
It was also a month when fundamentalism clashed with liberalism on the airwaves (Iris Robinson claimed homosexuals could be cured).
With the July hiatus tumbling into August the story was one of water; that is the millions of gallons that flooded the Belfast West Link’s newest underpass. The Biblical like downpour was, of course, not linked to any sinful activities in Belfast…except on certain phone-in shows and websites.
With summer ending, the Executive was in a mutual huff over the unresolved issues that had been bubbling to the surface for months. Householders were taking stock over the collapse in property prices when NIE announced a 33% hike in prices. The words Credit Crunch were on the lips of every politician. Hence, when Michael McGimpsey announced the phasing out of prescription charges (down to £3.00 from 1 January 2009, before their complete abolition) there were cheers from all, except the DUP, Sinn Féin coalition who only wished they were talking and had some cash windfall they could claim.
October’s debates in the Assembly were an exercise in talking as the Executive was sill not meeting…and house prices were still tumbling...and Secretary of State Shaun Woodward was telling the Executive to get its act together. The Assembly Executive and Review Committee promised progress in five weeks.
November was a breakthrough month with Barack Obama winning the US Presidential election, the first ever African American to do so. Northern Ireland witnessed a breakthrough too with the Executive getting back round the table.
And all the breakthroughs merely presaged the Executive’s £70 million beat the recession windfall package, which was announced in December. Before the cash details were out, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie was claiming her housing budget had suffered a smash and grab raid.
December also saw the official announcement of the much-touted UUP Conservative re-marriage. Well it’s more of a trial engagement; with David Cameron’s keynote address to the UUP conference as a first date and the Euro poll in May providing us with the chance to see if it will progress to full nuptials.
Meanwhile the 11+ row rumbled on; Catriona Ruane claimed at a school prize giving that hunger striker Bobby Sands was a hero; the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre moved a step nearer being finally built; and MLAs salaries came under the spotlight.
Next week sees the return of the Assembly for another 12 months of fun and games.
And what a maelstrom 2008 was on the political front! As we look forward the next 12 months, below is a brief reminder of the highlights of the last 52 weeks.
January saw the row over who was to be Victim’s Commissioner resolved. The new Commissioner was to be…Mike Nesbitt, Patricia McBride, Bertha McDougall and Brendan McAllister.
In February, pressure mounted on Ian Paisley Junior over alleged financial links with property developers leading to his eventually resigning his Junior Minister post in OFMDFM.
With the gossip filled corridors of Stormont chattering about the Paisley dynasty, the Big Man of Northern Ireland politics, DUP leader and First Minister, Ian Paisley announced he too was resigning.
In April, another giant of Irish politics, and recent friend of Paisley, Bertie Ahern, told a surprised press conference (and even more surprised party colleagues) he was standing down.
May saw a first in many ways when Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness visited a PSNI officer in hospital after the officer was injured in a explosion caused by a dissident republican undercar booby trap bomb.
The same month saw the major development in the Northern Ireland political landscape… Belfast’s former Miss Great Britian, Gemma Garrett, stood in the Crewe in Nantwich by-election as a representative of the Beauties for Britain Party. Unfortunately she only secured 113 votes - proving that Britain wasn’t ready for beauty.
In June the giggle duo were replaced by the Business Brothers as Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness swore to knuckle down to getting Northern Ireland in shape…and within weeks fell out over the devolving of policing and justice, then Irish Language Act etc, etc.
Dubya (US President George W Bush) breezed into the country to tell us “Northern Ireland is a success story”.
It was also a month when fundamentalism clashed with liberalism on the airwaves (Iris Robinson claimed homosexuals could be cured).
With the July hiatus tumbling into August the story was one of water; that is the millions of gallons that flooded the Belfast West Link’s newest underpass. The Biblical like downpour was, of course, not linked to any sinful activities in Belfast…except on certain phone-in shows and websites.
With summer ending, the Executive was in a mutual huff over the unresolved issues that had been bubbling to the surface for months. Householders were taking stock over the collapse in property prices when NIE announced a 33% hike in prices. The words Credit Crunch were on the lips of every politician. Hence, when Michael McGimpsey announced the phasing out of prescription charges (down to £3.00 from 1 January 2009, before their complete abolition) there were cheers from all, except the DUP, Sinn Féin coalition who only wished they were talking and had some cash windfall they could claim.
October’s debates in the Assembly were an exercise in talking as the Executive was sill not meeting…and house prices were still tumbling...and Secretary of State Shaun Woodward was telling the Executive to get its act together. The Assembly Executive and Review Committee promised progress in five weeks.
November was a breakthrough month with Barack Obama winning the US Presidential election, the first ever African American to do so. Northern Ireland witnessed a breakthrough too with the Executive getting back round the table.
And all the breakthroughs merely presaged the Executive’s £70 million beat the recession windfall package, which was announced in December. Before the cash details were out, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie was claiming her housing budget had suffered a smash and grab raid.
December also saw the official announcement of the much-touted UUP Conservative re-marriage. Well it’s more of a trial engagement; with David Cameron’s keynote address to the UUP conference as a first date and the Euro poll in May providing us with the chance to see if it will progress to full nuptials.
Meanwhile the 11+ row rumbled on; Catriona Ruane claimed at a school prize giving that hunger striker Bobby Sands was a hero; the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre moved a step nearer being finally built; and MLAs salaries came under the spotlight.
Next week sees the return of the Assembly for another 12 months of fun and games.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Who has been naughty and who has been nice
He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice, but who will Santa decide has been naughty or nice in the Northern Ireland Executive’s ‘beat the credit crunch package’ announced on Monday?
Unveiled was a £70million package, which included a one-off £150 fuel credit for up to 100,000 vulnerable households.
Tagged alongside were announcements on a freeze on business rates, construction projects and a scheme for building additional farm slurry tanks.
Finance Minister Nigel Dodds declared that the fuel poverty credit scheme had gone beyond the one proposed by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie.
Cue much name calling.
With the DUP and Sinn Féin happy with the deal announced, Ritchie declared the fuel poverty package was a ‘smash and grab’ raid on her budget.
She claimed the Executive had taken £30million from her budget and this would reduce the Housing Executive’s social housing budget. First Minister, Peter Robinson hit back with a stinging riposte.
“I would have thought she would be jumping up and down and rejoicing. Instead we hear carping and criticism,” he said.
"These are people who clearly do not understand the first thing about finance."
With the war of words still raging Santa will have a tough job deciding which of the warring parties has been naughty or nice.
Unveiled was a £70million package, which included a one-off £150 fuel credit for up to 100,000 vulnerable households.
Tagged alongside were announcements on a freeze on business rates, construction projects and a scheme for building additional farm slurry tanks.
Finance Minister Nigel Dodds declared that the fuel poverty credit scheme had gone beyond the one proposed by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie.
Cue much name calling.
With the DUP and Sinn Féin happy with the deal announced, Ritchie declared the fuel poverty package was a ‘smash and grab’ raid on her budget.
She claimed the Executive had taken £30million from her budget and this would reduce the Housing Executive’s social housing budget. First Minister, Peter Robinson hit back with a stinging riposte.
“I would have thought she would be jumping up and down and rejoicing. Instead we hear carping and criticism,” he said.
"These are people who clearly do not understand the first thing about finance."
With the war of words still raging Santa will have a tough job deciding which of the warring parties has been naughty or nice.
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