And what will you cut to pay for that?
Some dishonourable person has leaked a proposal from Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy, for the under-exercised Executive to defer the new water and sewerage service charges for a further three years.. which would take it past the date for the next Assembly and Council elections.. Those charges were last deferred in November last year. An administration of “all the talents”, indeed. That ticking’s getting louder, guys.. Btw, I’m assuming the confidential paper was leaked before the Executive could discuss it.. Update According to the Irish News, it was “announced” by the NI Regional Development Minister that he had circulated the paper for consideration by the Executive.. Which was nice of him..
I recall a certain Connor Murphy before the 2007 assembly elections saying that there would be no water charges, to be quickly reneged upon soon after.
The EURO elections and others coming up and ‘Surprise’ someone leaks the latest proposal. I smell the proverbial Rat here, perhaps it was a deliberately placed leak, and it looks likely.
Another attempt to wipe the Publics eye by Spin Fein again.
I wonder are they trying to deflect from the EU Commission asking some rather awkward questions about a certain ferry contract?
This is crazy by the time we face up to water charges it will cost us an absolute fortune. A popular election stunt though.
I don’t suppose he’ll have much trouble getting this one past the eagerly populist executive.
It shows how well “the institutions” are working for the people, does it not.
DUP ministers will surely also get some sweets to hand out before the next election.
“And what will you cut to pay for that?”
I know it’s a different department but it seems the Minister for Health may be able eventually to save £5 per person per week by removing the rewards given to some of those with a learning disability who attend day centres.
The money is a ‘reward’ for carrying out small tasks around the centres, not wages for the work done. However, the removal of the reward may well have a dispiriting effect on those who receive it.
Nevin,
I wonder if civil servants will be as concerned about this leak, as they were about those score sheets appearing on NALIL?
I do believe there was a call for disciplinary action to be taken against the person they suspected.
Unfortunately, erm the info had been released under FOI by DRD, but their record keeping had not indicated that.
Update According to the Irish News, it was “announced” by the NI Regional Development Minister that he had circulated the paper for consideration by the Executive.. Which was nice of him..
Mr Murphy is obviously an all round, good spud.
What happened to the Central Government policy that the good Spud Murphy was promising for Rathlin Island?
It has been mentioned in Dec 2007, Nov 2008, and most recently in Feb 2009?
Then again,the Water Charges will be a move which might appeal to more than 60/70/80/100(?) residents of Rathlin.
Are the levels of money involved not less than the efficiency savings being sought?