NI Water: Waiting for the FOIs to appear…
There are some really interesting (unhysterical) conversations (scroll down) being stirred up by the NI Water story, if it can yet be called a story. All we have so far are fragmentary threads the substance of which barely adds up to the sum of the parts. That’s because we are waiting for FOI requests to be returned from some of the several institutional parties to the ‘story’.
What matters in all of this is not the sacking of the NEDs per se, but the way it was done. Most of what we have so far are circumstances that ‘give rise to a perception’, no actual evidence of any wrong doing. For instance, why did the Independent Review Team continue taking contributions to its report right up to 24th February, if as the Permanent Sectretary says, he signed it off on the 18th?
We understand that NI Water’s CEO is conducting a forensic search for the source of the leaked emails that found their way into the hands to MLAs at the last PAC meeting before authorising the release of any further documents to the public. It is also understood that the SDLP’s deputy leader Patsy McGlone had something of a stand up ‘email exchange’ with a DRD official over their tardiness in producing its material.
Other organisations that have been ‘FOIed’ include the NI Audit Office, Phoenix Gas and the Utilities Regulator. The PAC have been told that Mr Priestly’s amendments to first draft of the IRC’s report should be with them on 2nd August… A number of the FOIs will be looking at some of the associated conversations around those changes to ascertain upon just what basis the amendments were made…
And we also understand that the PAC has taken delivery of a very long and detailed report from Sue Holmes, the consultant who is taking legal action against Laurence MacKenzie, which should be distributed to Committee members tomorrow, Friday…
Update: The report mentioned above has now been withdrawn (all copies to be destroyed) as she has been told she would only be protected by parliamentary privilege if she presents it in person before the committee… But not if it made in written form… She’s asking for commensurate protection from prosecution to that afforded by the PAC to Mr MacKenzie…
Ball now firmly in the court of the Chairman of the Committee…
Topic: Government
Region: Northern Ireland
or if we get the gov co to work right we could flog the whole thing off and clear a bit of debt/invest in our infastructure, but a good old socialist minister would not be on for that would he.
I think Pasty was quite aware of the point…
I’m not convinced we have a socialist minister, nor any socialists in Stormont for that matter.
A broad definition of a socialist might be someone wedded to the concept of equality, and the common ownership it declares itself to support.
In this instance, the ‘common ownership’ is of the NIA by all of the people of NI.
‘An Ireland of Equals’ is a nice enough, meaningless, electoral platitude, but that’s the extent of it: meaningless.
I’m confident that Declan Gormley, for one, is struggling to see where social equality exists in respect of his testimony to the IRT. To find where he can declare much faith in a common ownership of HIS parliament.
Everyone else got a voice, apparently, but not him.
I have to say that it’s a piss-poor impression of socialism where the suits get to set and steer an agenda while Mr. Gormley, another one who is a victim of a witch hunt, finds his voice gagged. There’s not much socialism in action there, is there?
Within the context of the NIA, ‘socialism’ is merely a collection of letters thrown onto the debating floor, to its committees, and the various parties’ election literature.
In the NIA, socialism does not exist. It does not, I repeat, exist. The word ‘socialist’ in the name does not make for a socialist party. The word ‘socialist’ in SF election literature does not make for a socialist party.A DUP too afraid to even mention ‘socialism’ in its election literature (other than the notion that it’s a spectre haunting Ulstah!) while attempting to woo a theoretical working class, socialist leaning vote base does not a socialist party make. As for the tweed jackets of the UUP, shouldn’t that be tweed jacket?
I’m not sure Craig could have envisaged ‘a centrist-right to far-right parliament for a centrist-right to far-right people’.
sorry william the sarcasm in my comment didnt come across, there is no such thing as a Socialist, but Connor will not give up control of a major part of his kingdom that easily.
“the model of governance is one of a complete rats’ nest.”
Perhaps it was designed by a committee – of permanent secretaries
Sorry, Drumlin, the sarcasm in your post was apparent first time around.
I couldn’t resist the temptation to reinforce the point.
Now, now William you will be accused of being “hysterical”….Like socialism it’s a bit of an archaic term.
” So the Minister would have been well within his rights to have sacked them at any time and for any reason he saw fit. ”
Yes…but they have contracts so there may be consequences. Also, if statements are made in the media on their alleged competence that they wish to challenge that may be another matter
Benjamin, the present status of NIW is a right shambles. I’m sure the Minister has already given some thought to an all-island combined water and sewage network.
“Scottish Water held discussions with the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) over the past year, it was revealed, and considered outright privatisation or mutualisation of the company.”
Perhaps Mutual Energy or even Phoenix Gas might have an interest in NIW.
“Waiting for the FOIs”
That can be a Waiting for Godot experience – incompetent ruling élite tries to keep the chattering classes passive and ignorant by whatever means.
Cynic
Breach of contract? Unlike Employment tribunals
Mick
Is there an FOI into Felicity Huston’s office re appointment, emergency procedures and most importantly the procedure/policy/ protocol for dismissal of NEDs. I assume that such exists.
Some answers re. new NEDs – dated July 23, published today:
Minister for Regional Development: As part of the emergency appointments process adopted in this instance (and for which the Department secured the approval of the Commissioner of Public Appointments) the Department drew up a ‘long list’ of potential candidates and these individuals were approached to gauge their level of interest. Following this process the Panel then considered 11 candidates for the posts of interim Non-Executive Directors to the Board of Northern Ireland Water. ..
Although a significant number of individuals on the list were contacted it must be said that many were not interested in putting themselves forward to be considered for the Interim appointments. However despite the challenges faced the Department still managed to create a competitive environment undertaking interviews/ conversations with a purpose with 11 candidates for the Non-Executive appointments. ..
Minister for Regional Development: In circumstances where the Department had to move quickly pending the running of a full public appointments process I agreed to the Department using an emergency process to fill the four non-executive positions. The Department then discussed the proposed process with the Commissioner for Public Appointments (Felicity Huston) to seek her support to deviate from the normal appointments process. The Commissioner gave her consent on 24 March 2010 to the Department’s proposed arrangements for the interim appointments, on the basis that there would be a demonstrable element of independent participation in the assessment process. Selection criteria for the four interim appointments were based on business and stakeholder needs. A ‘long list’ of potential candidates was drawn up and these individuals were contacted to gauge their level of interest. Potential candidates were asked to submit CV’s if they wished to be considered. Interviews or “conversations with a purpose” were then held by a panel which included an Independent Assessor. Recommendations were then made to me for consideration. END
Does such a process not automatically exclude cronies of the Minister, Permanent Secretary and the NIW CEO and Executive Directors?
‘A ‘long list’ of potential candidates was drawn up and these individuals were contacted to gauge their level of interest. Potential candidates were asked to submit CV’s if they wished to be considered. Interviews or “conversations with a purpose” were then held by a panel which included an Independent Assessor. Recommendations were then made to me for consideration’
I think it’s quite clear that anything anyone working in government, its departments, agencies or quangos says is now met with such a sense of disbelief that even comments like that need to have some facts tacked onto them in order to give this total bollocks of a ‘parliament’ any credence or credibility whatsoever.
A long list? How long? What are their names? Will they confirm they were approached? In what way was the ‘Independent Assessor’ independent? Was he independently appointed by the NIA or its departments? How independent does that make him? Who is he? Has a track record of being appointed ‘independently’ on more than one occasion? By whom? Were the recommendations followed or did the minister go his own sweet way in selecting Mo, Larry, Shemp and Curly, aka the four stooges?
Quite honestly, in every deed and action by this self-serving cabal of nonentities, there is very little we can take at face value. Nothing, maybe, we can take at face value.
If there’s a ‘government’ on the face of the globe that is an example of how not to do it, this is it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10722836
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10795146
Let me just pull a couple of current stories together on the day when DRD minister Murphy opens the Newry bypass.
Last week, it was announced that Fianna Fail had appointed an NIW man as new director of communications.
At last the water appears to be clearing. Obviously the new bypass was built solely for the purpose of creating a fast escape route to Dublin for those associated with NIW or the DRD.
Rats. Sinking. Ship. More to follow out of NIW? Or the DRD?