Wednesday, June 04, 2008
“I believe that this can and will happen..”
The current Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers were together in Belfast today, opening a new multi-million pound ferry terminal. Deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness was denying that anyone from his party had threatened anything.. although, as Mick noted here, someone from the party was briefing that way.. and McGuinness was stressing “the absolute urgency required to see that [St Andrews] agreement fulfilled” - although, the devolution of policing and justice powers still requires “agreement between the political parties”, “as you well know”. Meanwhile the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown was telling the Commons - “I hope we can move forward tomorrow (Thursday) and that the new first minister will be nominated as will the deputy first minister. I believe that this can and will happen.” And out-going First Minister, the DUP’s Ian Paisley, has rejected the claim that the party had reneged on the St Andrews Agreement.
However, Mr Paisley rejected this claim today. “There was such a thing as a St Andrews Agreement and there was a triple lock (veto) on St Andrews and the power of putting people into office comes not from votes in the Assembly but the strength of the people in the Assembly and those people are entitled to what the law gives them,” he said. Talks have been continuing to avert the possibility of fresh elections but Mr Paisley (82), said it would be an easy contest for his party. “I just ask people do they want to come back to the bad old days or do they want to go forward?” he added. “Are we going to bring everything to a standstill because people give an interpretation of what happens at St Andrew’s in their way.”
Which just leaves one question, will tomorrow see SF party president, Gerry Adams, back from Downing St to nominate Martin McGuinness as deputy First Minister..? Update The BBC are now reporting “increasing optimism”..
Pete Baker @ 02:06 PM
Ourselves alone indeed - deballed f*ckwits also being a passable translation it would seem. It’s one thing not even, in office, being able to walk the walk, but not even been able to talk the talk . . .
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 02:45 PMIf they’re smart, they’ll sort it out before Friday, cos that’s when the new Big Brother starts and everyone’s attention will be focussed on a different set of social misfits.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 02:46 PMGiven the hype around this issue now Gerry better deliver p&j;and the irish language act pdq or he will be following big Ian into retirement.
I think given comments in the west belfast press this is his last chance.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 02:51 PM“There was such a thing as a St Andrews Agreement and there was a triple lock (veto) on St Andrews.”
Nobody’s denying that the DUP have a triple lock in their possession, SF are just reminding them that their continued unreasonable refusal to open the triple lock comes at a price.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:56 PMIan,
spot on.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 05:05 PMSo what price is that then? The price os having top sit and watch Sinn Fein *pretend* they’ll cause an election they’re in fact too sh*t-scared to face? Yeah, the Punt’s wetting the bed over that one.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 05:15 PMNobody’s denying that the DUP have a triple lock in their possession, SF are just reminding them that their continued unreasonable refusal to open the triple lock comes at a price.
Posted by Ian on Jun 04, 2008 @ 04:56 PM
what is unreasonable is the existance of the army council, get rid of that and we`ll talk
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 05:16 PMNot sure what happened to the ould post-lunch typing there, so we’ll try again:
So what price is that then? The price of having to sit and watch Sinn Fein *pretend* they’ll cause an election they’re in fact too sh*t-scared to face? Yeah, the Punt’s wetting the bed over that one.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 05:20 PMNot sure what happened to the ould post-lunch typing there, so we’ll try again:
So what price is that then? The price of having to sit and watch Sinn Fein *pretend* they’ll cause an election they’re in fact too sh*t-scared to face? Yeah, the Punt’s wetting the bed over that one.
No need to have bothered Ahem, your latest post is no more rational or insightful than your first. You should remember that you’re not at sea when you’re blogging....
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 07:26 PM
