Comme la vague irrésolue
When Jim Allister was an MEP he wouldn’t have supported Bairbre de Brún in any way, his stance on Sinn Féin seemed to deny Jim Nicholson space to cooperate with them nevermind give a full endorsement. Things seem to have moved on apace with the former DUP man’s departure from the European stage.
During the debate on de Brún’s report on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals, Nicholson was postively gushing:
Mr President, first of all let me begin by thanking the rapporteur for all her hard work on this report. What many of us felt at the beginning would be a dossier which would not cause us much of a problem turned out to be an awful lot more tricky than we thought.
Unfortunately the rapporteur had to take the brunt of most of the negotiations, but she certainly had to work very hard to ensure this report got through within the necessary time frame, which was very important as we were under pressure to secure the extension of her derogation which was due to run out in June of this year.
Even Diane Dodds voted in favour of the report.
Adds – the video of the speech with a shot of Bairbre clearly lapping up Jim’s praise.
And why not?
Allister has a decent track record on animal welfare and related issues.
Anyway, only a kamikaze politician would vote against photgenic doggies and — err — pussies.
Malcolm,
It is not the vote or actual report that interests me. It is the open change in attitude from Nicholson that means he is now able not only to vote for a report drafted by de Brún but to directly compliment her on the content and effort.
Well done Bairbre, being given the job of rapporteur, which is a key position of responsibility, is a demonstration of the impact she is having in Brussels. Well done Jim and Diane for supporting one of your fellow MEP’s.
Now that Mrs Dodds is mentioned…
I’ve been reading the following on her website for quite a while…
Office Expenses
I made a commitment to the electorate to be open and transparent in relation to my expenses. It is important to me that you have confidence that your money is being spent appropriately.
I will be publishing my expenses on this section of the website soon
http://www.dianedodds.co.uk/expenses.php
–
9 months later they still arent up there…
Ms de Brun’s report on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals is an achievement and will bring a united Ireland much closer.
A pity so many had to die for their pets well-being.
A good news story BUT I’m afraid the temptation to suggest that Jimmy Nick’s attitude is somewhat out of kilter with his anti-agreement and backward looking assembly colleagues has just gotten the better of me.
Let’s not get too carried away. See his reaction to some additional funding for the Cultúrlann in West Belfast:
“Let’s just take a look at what An Chultúrlann has been used for in the past. In December 2005 Caitríona Ruane used the centre to host an event celebrating Republican women like Mairead Farrell who served 14 years for bombing the Conway Hotel in Dunmurry and met her just deserts while intent on staging a bomb attack against soldiers stationed on Gibraltar. Now, it seems, courtesy of the DUP Minister, they are to be better equipped to do more of the same.
“Is this delivering for Unionism? I think not!”
http://www.jimallister.eu/default.asp?blogID=1923
NN,
You are linking Jim Allister when it is Jim Nicholson’s speechifying being noted.
Doh!