Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Addicted to negotiations?
Ken Reid’s got some good detail on the outline of ‘the deal’ (which isn’t actually a deal, yet). Robinson gets to be FM tomorrow, but then external talks begin on a range of subjects. Most of these comprise Sinn Fein’s frustrated shopping list, with policing and justice at the top of the list, and “education, the Maze Prison complex, the future of the Irish Language Act and the viability of the mandatory form of executive also on the agenda”. This last is an insertion from the DUP, which suggests they may looking to up the price of any future deal.
The negotiations, will only include the ‘smoking break’ partners in the Executive, Sinn Fein and the DUP (the others must wait outside in ‘the corridor’). Downing Street will play host on Friday. The fact that policing and justice are back on an official agenda, may help calm some jangling nerves within the SF. More importantly perhaps: it usefully resets the problem outside the highly problematic question of dates. And it gives the SF leadership a ‘strategy’ to present to party activists, after last month’s timetable expired without the promised delivery.
Mick Fealty @ 04:09 PM
It does kinda look like one-nil to Sinn Féin, doesn’t it? It’ll be interesting to see how the unionist posters deal with this.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 06:26 PMHaving every biggish party in government every time lets the intra-sectarian outbidders back in without paying any price for their behaviour towards others.
At some point powersharing should mean that the biggest ‘cross community’ coalition to present itself becomes the government. That way we have some prospect of having both policies and accountability. A minimum of 25% of either ‘sort’ of MLA in a coalition should enable it to count as cross community.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 06:38 PMIf I was SF I would have brought it down to be honest. Can’t trust DUP to be anything other than nosayers.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 06:50 PMAt risk of pointing out the bleedin’ obvious:
This is final proof that the (for want of a better term) ‘Baker Doctrine’ was real: the timetable was indeed a timetable, and not an enforceable deadline.
SF’s win in this is that this deal puts the issue outside the St Andrews Agreement, and so gets it off its internal hook (which it got itself onto by promising its Ard Fheis something it was never in a position to deliver).
The DUP’s position was never to keep P&J;out endlessly, but to prove the St Andrews Agreement had the capacity to inflict pain on SF. This little episode has got them that much.
Now we await (without bated breath) to see the detailed outcome of these ‘negotiations’. SF should too. They’ve effectively been shafted once already. Twice would be very careless.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:24 PM#
It does kinda look like one-nil to Sinn Féin, doesn’t it? It’ll be interesting to see how the unionist posters deal with this.
Posted by Horseman on Jun 04, 2008 @ 08:26 PM
HOw, the shinners are no further on, P+J wont be devolved until the army council goes away, this was always the case.The DUP have inserted Parades, Education and a mandatory coalition into the mix.
Thanks Gerry! lol
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:36 PMGame set match Sinn Féin!
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:38 PM#
Game set match Sinn Féin!
Posted by dublinsinnfeinsupporter on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:38 PM
And the shinners have got what???
They are about to give way on parades , education , a manadtory coalition and god knows what else just to have street names in Irish !Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:39 PMObserver, I believe you owe me £100. Post your email address there and I’ll give you my PayPal details. Maith an fear tú féin.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:42 PMDeal Me In, No deals before thursday, you owe me.
ALl you have is a statement, no deals ...told ya
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:43 PMYou’re reneging on a wager.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:45 PMYeah, one nil to Sinn Fein. Let’s hope they go on and make it two nil or even three nil. Seriously, with Sinn Fein doing Unionism’s work for us like this, it’s a grand wee devolved parliament we’ve got up there on the hill.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:45 PM“Mr Robinson will probably hold off naming his new executive team until next week but there will be considerable change with no DUP minister remaining in the same position.
The new DUP leader wants to change the ministers again in 18 months.”
Has Robbo a fetish for musical chairs? Is it his way of curbing the progress of a rival?
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:47 PM#
Dewi:
’ll take that but what do you mean about “up front deals” - is that the same as no deal?
Posted by Deal me in on Jun 03, 2008 @ 05:54 PM
Means that there will be no deal on any of the above before marty becomes Peters no 2
Posted by observer on Jun 03, 2008 @ 05:59 PMLets wait and see what happens after they visit gordon, time to get the parades issue sorted, the army council disbanded, Academic Selection retained to our satisfaction…that`ll do for a start
Thanks Gerry
Posted by observer on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:48 PMPosted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:52 PMThe deal has been done Observer i.e. the ILA and P&J;are back on the table. You owe me.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:58 PMDewi
“If I was SF”
If?
Deal me in
when were the ILA or P&J;ever off the table? The key is not the Provo wish list but the DUP attitude to it. I see no evidence of an imminent change of heart on either issue.
dublinsinnfeinsupporter
I can live with republican wins like this all day long.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 08:28 PM#
The deal has been done Observer i.e. the ILA and P&J;are back on the table. You owe me.
Posted by Deal me in on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:58 PM
Dewi, what deal. The only thing happenin is that theyre going to talk to gordon. Is this it, was this SFs master plan just to make the DUP talk about thing HOLY GOD! what a waste of a weekPosted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 08:34 PMNow your just getting desperate observer. Okay I’ll accept you are a reneger but perhaps you should learn the lesson never to trust the Punt - he’ll bottle it every time at the last moment, just like Dundalk. Hard man my arse…
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 08:41 PMDeal me in, what deal has been done?
Pete was saying days ago that things were open for discussion NOTHING HAS CHANGED , no deals made and marty will become his number 2 as i said.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 08:50 PMjust to have street names in Irish
Street names are already bilingual in many areas throughout the north. It’s about greater equality for the Irish speaking community.
That said, it’s not clear that much has changed with this ‘deal’.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:13 PMRG Cuan - bottom line should be speaking Irish in Court - that’s where it stars IMHO.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:19 PMIt’s about greater equality for the Irish speaking community.
That said, it’s not clear that much has changed with this ‘deal’.
Posted by RG Cuan on Jun 04, 2008 @ 11:13 PMWhat about the chinese speaking community or the polish speaking community. At least they really speak the language and dont use it as a political footbal.
Sinn Fein - The party of equals, as long as your white, catholic and irish
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:20 PMI predict a meaningless fudge. P&J;“somewhere” down the line. ILA watered down. And the only ‘army’ council in NI will be at Thiepval.
Gerry and Marty sold the so called republican ideals for cash in hand, and a long term (after the’ve passed on) future mirage.
No mention of the fact, British rule is here to stay, including a 2nd home for MI5, and a srong British Army garrison. Westminster holds all the strings.
30 odd years of murder and mayhem to bring us back to where we were in 1967. Great stuff SF,at this rate unionists will be voting for you in droves.Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:21 PM#
RG Cuan - bottom line should be speaking Irish in Court - that’s where it stars IMHO.
Posted by Dewi on Jun 04, 2008 @ 11:19 PM
why? cant you speak english, or is that too hard. Whos going to pay for the translator the defendant?Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:21 PMRG Cuan - bottom line should be speaking Irish in Court - that’s where it stars IMHO.
Posted by Dewi on Jun 04, 2008 @ 11:19 PMMaybe the charge should be levelled at the respective government depending of the language needed translating… ie the poles would pay for polish, chinese etc and Biffo can fork out for his people up here, all those nice Oirish citizens of his
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:26 PM1) Don’t quite understand why people are referring to me on comments I didn’t make.
2) “why? cant you speak english, or is that too hard. Whos going to pay for the translator the defendant?”
My English is Ok but would rather speak Welsh in court (if u don’t mind terribly of course) - what’s the big deal in allowing Irish in courts in Ireland?
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 09:28 PM
