Friday, March 21, 2008
“justice, with a small j..”
Picking up on a report by Chris Thornton in the Belfast Telegraph, the BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport has blogged a suggestion for a possible solution to the still undecided structure of any devolved ministry for policing and justice..
“Is there a solution to the standoff over completing devolution here? Could we get a new department of justice, with a small j to appeal to nationalists and a gov.uk address to keep unionists happy? Perhaps it could be jointly led by a Justice minister and another justice Minister.....”
It would, of course, still leave the issue of the timing..
Pete Baker @ 09:29 PM
There might be another way.transfer powers to the assembly and seperate the justice element by having a Chief Justice as opposed to a minister for Justice.In that was he could still be responsible to the assembly by having a justice committee.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 10:14 PMexpect “sunset clauses” and preparatory commitees for the devolution of police and justice.
If anything we know about the Brits its how to circumvent time-lines and deadlines; and apply flexibility to things set in stone.
Masters of diplomacy; bridge-playing, and disengagement.Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 10:29 PMDanny
Worthwhile reading the links, perhaps, to see why Mark has suggested his possible solution.
Perci
Missing the point about that ‘target date’.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 11:34 PMThanks Pete,I was just suggesting that some sort of fudge may be used to get people off the hook.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 11:59 PMOK, a totally off-the-wall thought: if/when transfer does happen, will ‘on-going’ commitments fall on the devolved budget?
If so, there’s some expensive items in there. And not just financially.
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 12:01 AMwe’ll see peteb, 6 weeks is still a long time in.. you know the cliche
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 12:30 AMNo, perci, you’re still missing the point.
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 12:36 AMI’m aware of the changing nature of Reality peteb, fluidity, and the impact of events.
Sometimes I feel you miss that.
Where do you factor that in?Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 12:49 AMRed Herring, and SF know it.
Security, defence, the works will still lie with the MoD and MI5. But lets go softly here, we don’t want to upset the applecart. 5000 British Army garrison, big new MI5 hq, don’t upset the shinners. They have swallowed the British rule bait, hook line and sinker. But please don’t mention it in polite republican circles.
Well done Gerry and Martin. Terence o Neill will smile down. They followed the money. So easy when you think about it. Now can we all get on with bread and butter politics within the UK context, given that the “Irish” dimension is window dressing.
The SF students at Queens must feel like the SWP idiots a decade ago.
So it goesPosted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 12:52 AMmajordolittle,
SF are now conducting themselves as democrats. What’s there to complain about ?
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 09:46 AMDanny, do you mind if I use the upper case D? ;)
Perhaps they’ll go the victims route and have a justice commission.
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 10:13 AMMalcolm, IIRC a £100 million plus hole has appeared in the policing budget. I think that probably means a further reduction in ‘community policing’, the closure of small police stations and a ‘retreat from the periphery’. The paramilitary godfathers and the hoods will have even less to fear.
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 10:23 AMPerhaps they’ll go the victims route and have a justice commission.
Why am I reminded of DC Comic’s Justice League?
Anyone catch Newton Emerson’s take on the whole thing in Thursday’s Irish News and how the Shinners could use Frank McGreevy’s death as a stick to beat the DUP with?
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 11:27 AMCome in number three!!
Delivering justice by hood or by crook.
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 12:03 PMThat’s a fine article by Newt Nevin, ties alot of issues together.
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 12:43 PM[aside]We went NUTS on March 17. You have until May 12 to submit your big idea!!
Posted by on Mar 22, 2008 @ 09:43 PM
