As noted last week, Finance Minister, Nigel Dodds promised to help out councils struggling through the economic gloom to maintain services, but he had to wait until officials carried out the appropriate calculations, passed their GCSE Maths and found where they had left the calculator.
All that being completed, Dodds unveiled the rescue package. The £8m package included £4m for councils who may have had to hike the rates to householders by as much 10%.
Also rebates granted to the Ministry of Defence and British Telecom are to be offset, as is an increase in the cost of collecting the rates.
The Northern Ireland Local Government Association were reported to be “chuffed” and citizens across the country astounded to find a Minister who listened and officials who managed a process in weeks rather than decades.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Educate me, teach me, learn me
You want your child to go to Grammar School? Then you’ll now have a choice of which examination to sit. One group announced this week that common tests could be taken on school campuses to gain entrance to one of several schools.
This splinter group of grammar schools – separate from the “Quality Education” group has sourced their own tests.
Of course, with grammar schools now setting their own pseudo 11+ the Education Minister was less than happy.
Education Minister Caitriona Ruane was even less over-joyed at the intervention of Bishop Donal McKeown, the head of the Commission for Catholic Education who went public to say he understood the frustration of those Grammar principles who set their own common entrance exam.
Bishop McKeown’s views seem to indicate that the church’s previous stance on no to independent testing has been set aside as long as the impasse remains.
As this came on the day that the Vatican launched its own Youtube channel, ‘Tubers’ are eagerly awaiting a cyber-debate between Pope Benedict XVI and educationalists. But whether the children can watch depends on whether IT skills are on the proposed transfer test(s).
This splinter group of grammar schools – separate from the “Quality Education” group has sourced their own tests.
Of course, with grammar schools now setting their own pseudo 11+ the Education Minister was less than happy.
Education Minister Caitriona Ruane was even less over-joyed at the intervention of Bishop Donal McKeown, the head of the Commission for Catholic Education who went public to say he understood the frustration of those Grammar principles who set their own common entrance exam.
Bishop McKeown’s views seem to indicate that the church’s previous stance on no to independent testing has been set aside as long as the impasse remains.
As this came on the day that the Vatican launched its own Youtube channel, ‘Tubers’ are eagerly awaiting a cyber-debate between Pope Benedict XVI and educationalists. But whether the children can watch depends on whether IT skills are on the proposed transfer test(s).
Stroke City hosting North-South chinwag
The North South Ministerial Council ended the political week with a chinwag at Magee College in Londonderry/Derry/Doire.
It’s the first time the council has sat down to natter since Peter Robinson assumed the reins from the Big Man, and Brian Cowen stepped into the shoes left vacant by Bertie.
Staying topical, they discussed how to beat what the British Government has now officially confirmed as a recession in the UK.
With no sense of irony, it comes on the day that Thales Missile Systems announced a contract for providing Starstreak missiles for the MoD (Raytheon style protests are not likely in Newtownabbey though) and two construction companies from Northern Ireland won the contract to build a motorway.
Unfortunately that motorway is being built in Scotland…
As northern and southern ministers contemplated the murkiness of spiralling unemployment, there must have been a certain amount of handwringing over what actually can be done.
With banking giant HSBC pulling out of the PFI deal on the Erne Hospital and the venerable Superquinn empire conceding exchange rate defeat for its Dundalk store, the bad news seems to keep flowing like a tide.
But rest assured that such North South Ministerial Council meetings will promise much co-operation to “weather the storm” but it seems unlikely that First Minister Robinson will go as far as saying that a united approach with his southern counterparts is required. As a Chelsea fan he is allergic to any sentence with “united in it” lest he be invited to Old Trafford.
It’s the first time the council has sat down to natter since Peter Robinson assumed the reins from the Big Man, and Brian Cowen stepped into the shoes left vacant by Bertie.
Staying topical, they discussed how to beat what the British Government has now officially confirmed as a recession in the UK.
With no sense of irony, it comes on the day that Thales Missile Systems announced a contract for providing Starstreak missiles for the MoD (Raytheon style protests are not likely in Newtownabbey though) and two construction companies from Northern Ireland won the contract to build a motorway.
Unfortunately that motorway is being built in Scotland…
As northern and southern ministers contemplated the murkiness of spiralling unemployment, there must have been a certain amount of handwringing over what actually can be done.
With banking giant HSBC pulling out of the PFI deal on the Erne Hospital and the venerable Superquinn empire conceding exchange rate defeat for its Dundalk store, the bad news seems to keep flowing like a tide.
But rest assured that such North South Ministerial Council meetings will promise much co-operation to “weather the storm” but it seems unlikely that First Minister Robinson will go as far as saying that a united approach with his southern counterparts is required. As a Chelsea fan he is allergic to any sentence with “united in it” lest he be invited to Old Trafford.
On from the bench comes…
When you need a substitute in football you hope that the player you bring on has experience enough to cope when a game plan seems to be going awry. Managers want players who know the ropes; who have been there before when the tempest of uncertainty rages through carefully laid schemes.
Seems the same is the case in the Civil Service
This week the SDLP’s Dolores Kelly revealed that 30 retired civil servants had been coining in £424,248 as consultants.
Now, while this may seem shocking in some quarters, look carefully and there could be a grand scheme at play here. (1) Civil servants get redundancy/final salary payments, therefore injecting much needed cash into the economy. (2) Pay them as consultants therefore injecting much needed cash into the economy. (3) Make more civil servants redundant as part of RPA with redundancy/final salary payments, therefore injecting much needed cash into the economy. (4) Pay them as consultants therefore injecting much needed cash into the economy.
Oh wait! That would mean an increase in taxes and rates…and the Irish Times was reporting at the same time that there is a £1bn shortfall in the Executive’s finances. Seems officials will be cadging unspent monies from departments who haven’t progressed their plans. One hopes they haven’t unspent monies in savings accounts. What with the interest rate so low it’s not exactly the best way to get a return on your investment.
Now, while this may seem shocking in some quarters, look carefully and there could be a grand scheme at play here. (1) Civil servants get redundancy/final salary payments, therefore injecting much needed cash into the economy. (2) Pay them as consultants therefore injecting much needed cash into the economy. (3) Make more civil servants redundant as part of RPA with redundancy/final salary payments, therefore injecting much needed cash into the economy. (4) Pay them as consultants therefore injecting much needed cash into the economy.
Oh wait! That would mean an increase in taxes and rates…and the Irish Times was reporting at the same time that there is a £1bn shortfall in the Executive’s finances. Seems officials will be cadging unspent monies from departments who haven’t progressed their plans. One hopes they haven’t unspent monies in savings accounts. What with the interest rate so low it’s not exactly the best way to get a return on your investment.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Tickets please
With tickets for Barack Obama’s inauguration trading for several hundred dollars on e-bay, it seems that at least one political chief in Northern Ireland will be there on Tuesday.
Gerry Adams has snagged a precious place at the event.
All the rest will have to do without Bono and Beyonce and the hyperbole that is already reaching fever pitch. We’ll just have to settle for the TV highlights.
Gerry Adams has snagged a precious place at the event.
All the rest will have to do without Bono and Beyonce and the hyperbole that is already reaching fever pitch. We’ll just have to settle for the TV highlights.
The villains of the piece?
Bank bosses were once again up at the Assembly when the Finance Committee called the bankers to see what more they could do in the credit crunch.
The British Banker Association were keen to point out that it was a global crisis and they were doing all they could to help their customers.
Ian Paisley Jnr warned the bankers that the public perception was that they were the villains of the piece.
There is no truth, of course, that bank officials turned up wearing black capes, masks and carrying bags marked swag.
The British Banker Association were keen to point out that it was a global crisis and they were doing all they could to help their customers.
Ian Paisley Jnr warned the bankers that the public perception was that they were the villains of the piece.
There is no truth, of course, that bank officials turned up wearing black capes, masks and carrying bags marked swag.
Bob the (Assembly) Builder
As if Plenary Sessions weren’t exciting enough it seems the speaker William Hay is going to make sure that he’s building towards yet more fun in the chamber.
Previously, whoever was in the speaker’s chair called MLAs to speak according to party strengths and the ordering of debates.
Now the speaker plans to call members when they wish to speak.
This means the Assembly could be like Westminster with members bobbing up and down to draw the attention of the speaker, waving their order papers.
The implications are massive replacement surgery for all the arthritic joints of older members trying to keep up the bobbing pace.
Previously, whoever was in the speaker’s chair called MLAs to speak according to party strengths and the ordering of debates.
Now the speaker plans to call members when they wish to speak.
This means the Assembly could be like Westminster with members bobbing up and down to draw the attention of the speaker, waving their order papers.
The implications are massive replacement surgery for all the arthritic joints of older members trying to keep up the bobbing pace.
Job gloom...that’ll be the employment minister then
With the global economic crisis impacting local employers this week, FG Wilson, Seagate and Nortel were among those making announcements the week ended with Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey warning that up to 20,000 jobs could go in Northern Ireland .
Given that there were 550 job losses this week alone, this could be an under-estimate at best. Empey warned that by 2010 the unemployment rate could be as high as 50,000.
So, when things are tough its time to see Gordon Brown. Empey, together with the First and deputy First Ministers are off to beg the PM to, in the words of the employment minister, show a sense of compassion.
They’ll also be asking for help in the Presbyterian Mutual Society crisis.
The shopping/wish list gets bigger, but will Brown be impressed?
Given that there were 550 job losses this week alone, this could be an under-estimate at best. Empey warned that by 2010 the unemployment rate could be as high as 50,000.
So, when things are tough its time to see Gordon Brown. Empey, together with the First and deputy First Ministers are off to beg the PM to, in the words of the employment minister, show a sense of compassion.
They’ll also be asking for help in the Presbyterian Mutual Society crisis.
The shopping/wish list gets bigger, but will Brown be impressed?
You wouldn’t rate that!
WITH the credit crunch in full swing ministers are hard at it trying to prove their worth.
Coming quickly on the heels of fuel payments being fast-tracked and housing boost, it was time for Nigel Dodds to make another announcement.
He this week promised to help, if he can, local councils struggling to keep rates bills down.
Dodds said he had only limited scope to lend a hand, but he was waiting for officials to see what could be done to help out councils faced with the prospect of cutting services or hiking bills.
The Finance Minister promised an announcement was imminent as councils across Northern Ireland said rates could rise by up to 10%.
With less than a month until councils have to hike their rates, more than a few councillors will be sweating that Mr Dodds won't wait too long for that imminent announcement - not to mention ratepayers!
Coming quickly on the heels of fuel payments being fast-tracked and housing boost, it was time for Nigel Dodds to make another announcement.
He this week promised to help, if he can, local councils struggling to keep rates bills down.
Dodds said he had only limited scope to lend a hand, but he was waiting for officials to see what could be done to help out councils faced with the prospect of cutting services or hiking bills.
The Finance Minister promised an announcement was imminent as councils across Northern Ireland said rates could rise by up to 10%.
With less than a month until councils have to hike their rates, more than a few councillors will be sweating that Mr Dodds won't wait too long for that imminent announcement - not to mention ratepayers!
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