THERE was a furore when the Irish News reported that Education Minister Catriona Ruane had taken her daughter out of school for 3 days so she could join her mother on a visit to Cyprus.
It has to be the ultimate absence note – one signed by the Education Minister. After all, if your school really, really wants an impromptu inspection then it would be a brave principal that would pick up the phone to ask the Catriona Ruane to explain why their offspring was off during term time.
Ruane’s stout defence of a parent’s right to absent their child from class rang hollow for some. There must come a point where the media considers the implications for the child. One can only imagine the reaction of her daughter’s classmates to the story, which received widespread coverage in the local press.
And, one can only imagine the reaction of the Minister when news broke that the Irish Government announced that it was not continuing to jointly fund the Middletown Autism Centre of Excellence in Armagh.
Beleaguered Ruane insisted that it would not be the end of the centre. But one has to wonder what it heralds in terms of funding from the Republic.
The €400 million promised by the Irish Government for infrastructure developments in the north (better roads to you and me) could also be at serious risk, given the perilous state of public sector finances south of the border.
And, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board is reporting a 26 per cent increase in visitors from the Republic, and a shopping centre in Banbridge reporting a 20 per cent increase in sales thanks to southern shoppers.
It would be a brave member of the Dáil who would recommend better roads to take the euros across the border.
Friday, 22 May 2009
Catalonia visit
ROOM 144 at Parliament Buildings was unusually quiet on Wednesday afternoon. Normally buzzing with debate and rancour as the Committee of the First Minister and deputy First Minister holds forth on the many topics that come within its remit, this week silence descended on the room.
No, members had not fallen asleep – instead they were off to Spain. Or, more precisely Catalonia to find out how the devolved Catalonian assembly managed to work as a region of Spain within the EU.
Important stuff no doubt. But given the expenses fiasco could they not have simply sent an email, written a letter, picked up the phone?
Average temperature in Barcelona on Friday was 24 degrees Celsius. The average temperature in Belfast on Friday was 16 degrees celsius. Nah, that email idea just wouldn’t have worked.
Better to meet face-to-face in Catalonia.
No, members had not fallen asleep – instead they were off to Spain. Or, more precisely Catalonia to find out how the devolved Catalonian assembly managed to work as a region of Spain within the EU.
Important stuff no doubt. But given the expenses fiasco could they not have simply sent an email, written a letter, picked up the phone?
Average temperature in Barcelona on Friday was 24 degrees Celsius. The average temperature in Belfast on Friday was 16 degrees celsius. Nah, that email idea just wouldn’t have worked.
Better to meet face-to-face in Catalonia.
Election around the corner
JUST a couple of weeks to go and the European poll will take place amidst a backdrop of limited understanding as to what Europe does for NI, now that the Troubles has ceased to be a reason for Brussels to dole out dosh to it.
Of course, a sensible answer would be to point out how European administrators have helped rein in greedy phone companies excessive charging for cross-border roaming; how Europe has enacted important environmental controls; or even that many laws administered locally are interpretations of what has already been set by Europe.
But the truth of the matter is that the real reason for a European poll is that we can all indulge in a sectarian headcount. And then we can all mull over the battles within the Unionist camp, judge whether the old guard has retained its status, and see just how many first preference votes Sinn Féin grabs.
Then we can let Europe get along its merry way and do all the stuff we don’t need to know about but affects our lives each and every day.
Of course, a sensible answer would be to point out how European administrators have helped rein in greedy phone companies excessive charging for cross-border roaming; how Europe has enacted important environmental controls; or even that many laws administered locally are interpretations of what has already been set by Europe.
But the truth of the matter is that the real reason for a European poll is that we can all indulge in a sectarian headcount. And then we can all mull over the battles within the Unionist camp, judge whether the old guard has retained its status, and see just how many first preference votes Sinn Féin grabs.
Then we can let Europe get along its merry way and do all the stuff we don’t need to know about but affects our lives each and every day.
Friday, 15 May 2009
Have you filled out your expenses form?
SOMETIMES satirising public representatives can be like shooting the proverbial fish in a barrel. Usually it is because some of our local politicians only open their mouths to change feet.
This week…well the pen proves to be mightier than the sword. That is the pen that fills in the expense forms.
If in doubt retaliate first
Double jobbing sounds worse than it is. No scrub that, it is worse than it sounds. Basically the practice of double jobbing, as it relates to our elected representatives, is such that an MLA can also be a councillor, or an MP; sometimes even all three (triple jobbing).
The DUP, in particular have been stung by criticism of late of the practice. Party leader Peter Robinson this week decided to announce an end to double jobbing. Well, not an end as such.
Some MLAs will cease being councillors. Some MPs will cease being MLAs. And, it is to be a gradual process; no immediate clearing of the decks.
At the same time as announcing this, the party published a policy paper, which they claimed was designed to show how money could be saved through greater efficiency.
For the chop were the number of NI government departments, the number of MLAs (less double jobbing…) and a number of ‘quangos’.
It could – for the most cynical – been a move to show how the DUP were a party driven by thrift rather than a party which spends a lot of money. More on that later…
Amongst the targets for the DUP hack and slash policy were the Parade’s Commission (not a favourite body of the DUP) and the Civic Forum (also not on the DUP favourites list).
They also proposed that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Equality Commission and the Commissioner for Children and Young People should be merged into a single body. Again, these are organisations that the DUP have been known to criticise, both in terms of their very existence and what they do.
Perhaps it is more telling the quangos that were left off the hit list - the Victims Commissioners, the Older Person’s Advocate and the dozens of other quangos helpfully listed online by the Department of Finance and Personnel.
The DUP, in particular have been stung by criticism of late of the practice. Party leader Peter Robinson this week decided to announce an end to double jobbing. Well, not an end as such.
Some MLAs will cease being councillors. Some MPs will cease being MLAs. And, it is to be a gradual process; no immediate clearing of the decks.
At the same time as announcing this, the party published a policy paper, which they claimed was designed to show how money could be saved through greater efficiency.
For the chop were the number of NI government departments, the number of MLAs (less double jobbing…) and a number of ‘quangos’.
It could – for the most cynical – been a move to show how the DUP were a party driven by thrift rather than a party which spends a lot of money. More on that later…
Amongst the targets for the DUP hack and slash policy were the Parade’s Commission (not a favourite body of the DUP) and the Civic Forum (also not on the DUP favourites list).
They also proposed that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Equality Commission and the Commissioner for Children and Young People should be merged into a single body. Again, these are organisations that the DUP have been known to criticise, both in terms of their very existence and what they do.
Perhaps it is more telling the quangos that were left off the hit list - the Victims Commissioners, the Older Person’s Advocate and the dozens of other quangos helpfully listed online by the Department of Finance and Personnel.
A gift for the DUP?
Lady Syliva Hermon is the only Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament. She went on the radio to explain why she had over-claimed more than £2,700 from the Westminster fees office for rent on a London flat between 2005 and 2006.
Whether intentional or not, she also then spoke out against the Ulster Unionist hook-up with the Tories.
A collective sigh of ‘oops’ could be heard round the body politick.
There were few that doubted Lady Sylvia’s reservations over the alliance with David Cameron’s Conservatives, but it was now laid bare.
Cue, barely restrained delight from the DUP, suggestions from the BBC that ‘Conservative’ MPs’ expenses claims had been the last straw and a measured response from Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey who argued that the good lady should not be disciplined.
Members of the DUP must have been sitting back with a sense of contentment, as the Conservatives and Unionists euro election campaign was momentarily derailed by the North Down MP’s revelations.
Whether intentional or not, she also then spoke out against the Ulster Unionist hook-up with the Tories.
A collective sigh of ‘oops’ could be heard round the body politick.
There were few that doubted Lady Sylvia’s reservations over the alliance with David Cameron’s Conservatives, but it was now laid bare.
Cue, barely restrained delight from the DUP, suggestions from the BBC that ‘Conservative’ MPs’ expenses claims had been the last straw and a measured response from Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey who argued that the good lady should not be disciplined.
Members of the DUP must have been sitting back with a sense of contentment, as the Conservatives and Unionists euro election campaign was momentarily derailed by the North Down MP’s revelations.
…and then came Friday
ONLY a suspicious mind would say that the DUP policy on government savings was because they wanted to deflect from the MPs expenses story that was heading down the tracks towards the Members of Parliament for East Belfast and Strangford.
Only a suspicious mind would have queried the statistics that Peter Robinson trotted out to explain the £400 per month on food claimed by his wife and fellow MP and MLA, Iris.
Only a suspicious mind would have queried Mr Robinson’s claim that this amounted to about £73 per month and at London prices this was reasonable.
Well, then we can only conclude that there are a lot of suspicious minds out there.
The ire of an annoyed and angered populace was sounded on the airwaves. Online the eating expenses were analysed and dissected. Particular focus of political rivals and fuming voters was how the £73+ per week related to the time spent at Westminster. That is the House of Commons that sits for about half a year. That is the Westminster that Mr and Mrs Robinson don’t attend on Monday and Tuesdays as these are when the Assembly meets in plenary session.
Naturally all of this was to be expected
What was less expected was how mild the media interrogation was of our Peter Robinson on Friday morning. If the average radio caller and bloggers can work out that the £73+ a week does not relate to actual Parliamentary attendance by the First Minister then why were these questions not posed of half of our First Minister?
On a more hopeful note, Mr Robinson said that there will be reform of the much talked about ‘rules’ for expenses, and that his party may go further than what is proposed.
He cited one potential avenue - publishing MPs expenses online.
Which, the more seasoned commentators have pointed out, should have done years ago, rather than having to be forced into reform through legal challenges and newspaper revelations.
Only a suspicious mind would have queried the statistics that Peter Robinson trotted out to explain the £400 per month on food claimed by his wife and fellow MP and MLA, Iris.
Only a suspicious mind would have queried Mr Robinson’s claim that this amounted to about £73 per month and at London prices this was reasonable.
Well, then we can only conclude that there are a lot of suspicious minds out there.
The ire of an annoyed and angered populace was sounded on the airwaves. Online the eating expenses were analysed and dissected. Particular focus of political rivals and fuming voters was how the £73+ per week related to the time spent at Westminster. That is the House of Commons that sits for about half a year. That is the Westminster that Mr and Mrs Robinson don’t attend on Monday and Tuesdays as these are when the Assembly meets in plenary session.
Naturally all of this was to be expected
What was less expected was how mild the media interrogation was of our Peter Robinson on Friday morning. If the average radio caller and bloggers can work out that the £73+ a week does not relate to actual Parliamentary attendance by the First Minister then why were these questions not posed of half of our First Minister?
On a more hopeful note, Mr Robinson said that there will be reform of the much talked about ‘rules’ for expenses, and that his party may go further than what is proposed.
He cited one potential avenue - publishing MPs expenses online.
Which, the more seasoned commentators have pointed out, should have done years ago, rather than having to be forced into reform through legal challenges and newspaper revelations.
You can get better deals online
A word of advice for our MPs - you can get better deals online.
Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik bought a flat screen TV on expenses for about £2,000.
Walk into a high street store and you can get a pretty impressive TV for that amount of money.
But, as viewers of Channel Five’s Gadget Show can testify, buy online and you can save dozens if not hundreds of pounds on flat screen TVs…unless you are buying a really extravagant TV that is well beyond what you would need to have to catch up on the BBC Parliamentary Channel.
Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik bought a flat screen TV on expenses for about £2,000.
Walk into a high street store and you can get a pretty impressive TV for that amount of money.
But, as viewers of Channel Five’s Gadget Show can testify, buy online and you can save dozens if not hundreds of pounds on flat screen TVs…unless you are buying a really extravagant TV that is well beyond what you would need to have to catch up on the BBC Parliamentary Channel.
In other news…
Yes there has been other news!
The cost of public inquiries on the past won’t be laid on Stormont’s already strained budget when policing and justice is devolved, prompting a collecting sigh of relief amongst MLAs. And it will keep the barristers happy as there will be less chance of an MLA asking how much they claim on expenses during these inquiries…
…there has also been a European election campaign ongoing, with the three sitting MEPs defending their turf from the newcomers. While Jim Allister has been rubbing his hands with glee at the DUP and UCUNF discomfort, other candidates have been ploughing away.
…and in the education debate there was no other news
More traffic cluttering the internet highway
As many people may know the explosion of social media has been extraordinary. So much so the political parties are determined to show how hip, trendy and 'down with the kids' they really are.
Facebook is beginning to creak under the weight of fanboy, political party and individual politician pages.
The tweeple at twitter are twoubled by the number of politicos twittering off their tweets, including a number of the EU candidates.
Flickr is being inundated with photographs at a phenomenal rate, and just don't even mention youtube. Mind youtube is one of the most aptly named application with so many politicians on it and being so engaging, many insomniacs have finally had a nights sleep.
And to add to the internet's woes, new boy at Chambré Public Affairs, Ivor Whitten, has jumped unashamedly on the bandwagon. Slugger he ain't but his site, www.handofhistoryni.blogspot.com, seems to be shaping up quite nicely. Yes, before you ask he is also a twit...er...er at www.twitter.com/iwhitten. Ivor joins the Chambré team from the British Medical Association where he was Assembly and Research Officer for over 5 years. Go easy on him, he is only new.
Facebook is beginning to creak under the weight of fanboy, political party and individual politician pages.
The tweeple at twitter are twoubled by the number of politicos twittering off their tweets, including a number of the EU candidates.
Flickr is being inundated with photographs at a phenomenal rate, and just don't even mention youtube. Mind youtube is one of the most aptly named application with so many politicians on it and being so engaging, many insomniacs have finally had a nights sleep.
And to add to the internet's woes, new boy at Chambré Public Affairs, Ivor Whitten, has jumped unashamedly on the bandwagon. Slugger he ain't but his site, www.handofhistoryni.blogspot.com, seems to be shaping up quite nicely. Yes, before you ask he is also a twit...er...er at www.twitter.com/iwhitten. Ivor joins the Chambré team from the British Medical Association where he was Assembly and Research Officer for over 5 years. Go easy on him, he is only new.
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