Thursday, May 15, 2008
“This is an entirely unacceptable position..”
If anyone thought today’s Northern Ireland Executive meeting would resolve the impasse on the transfer of pupils to post-primary schools, although I don’t believe anyone actually did, they were proved wrong. This BBC report includes a short on-air interview with the Education Minister, Sinn Féin’s Caitriona Ruane, openly briefing against her Executive colleagues - “It is disappointing that colleagues who claimed that they wanted a discussion on the proposals didn’t even engage. What happened today was an attempt to frustrate change.” It also quotes the out-going First Minister, the DUP’s Ian Paisley Snr.
And, according to the RTÉ report - “Dr Paisley also said the minister’s plan did ‘not form a basis for moving forward’.” More here - First Minister Dr Paisley said it was a sad day for Northern Ireland. “The Minister for Education’s proposals, as currently framed, are totally unacceptable and do not form a basis for moving forward.”Mr Paisley said: “The education minister can make any suggestion she wants to. However, it will not come into force until she has the support of the DUP and the endorsement of the executive. “This is now a matter for the executive to deliberate and to decide upon. “We supported a proposal for a sub-committee of the executive to deal with this - this was rejected by Sinn Fein. “We supported a proposal by Margaret Ritchie that the executive as a whole would discuss the issue of post-primary education - this was rejected by Sinn Fein. This is an entirely unacceptable position.”
Pete Baker @ 07:55 PM
The minister might be able to press her plan through without support of the other parties but it will mean all the downside risks will be unshared, and there are surely significant downside risks in her proposals.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 08:32 PMFar from it for me to be a fan of Ruane or Sinn Fein but I also share the view of SF members up and down the country that Ruane should be ditched and ditched quickly!
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 08:35 PMBP
That would only be applicable if you believed she was on a solo run from her own party’s leadership.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 08:40 PMEvery time I see Ruane on TV, it reminds me of the times I have had to go out and quickly dispose of a wounded mouse my cat was playing with before killing. I had to despatch the poor rodent with a hammer to put it out of its hapless misery.
I have no idea why she instigates such thoughts.
Any Freudians on here?
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 08:43 PM“I will not be frustrated and I am not demoralised.” “I am going to be the education minister who brings about that change.”
Maybe it is just me but whenever a politician starts stressing ‘I’ so much instead of ‘we’ ‘or their party I think it is time to take a serious look at their motivations.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 09:06 PMDead woman walking (figuratively!).
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 09:47 PMToday’s outcome in the Executive confirms my belief that the present system is a crazy way of delivering government. My view is strengthened by the statements of both the Minister, her new sidekick and other SF commentators - all claiming that it is an SF policy. What is needed is a Programme for Government, agreed by all partners, ie as in all coalition governments. It also needs an effective opposition. At present, the SF policy has no hope of obtaining cross-community support and doesn’t appear to be trying to get it. Would the situation have been different if another party had been putting forward a similar policy?
Listening to the various vox pops, my long held view is confirmed that whilst there is little support for the 11+ in its present form, there is considerable support, within both traditions, for the continued existence of grammar schools and academic education, ie a selective system of post-primary education. The Bishop of Derry’s educational spokesman, Fr S Farren, has written, I believe in the ‘Derry Journal’, a most fascinating article against selection in education - even going to the extent of apologising for the Churches support of the selective system!
Finally, it’s a great pity we were never ruled from Edinburgh.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 10:15 PMi couldn’t care less whether the 11+ goes or stays but to compare Caitriona Ruane to a rodent as driftwood has done should surely be unacceptable on this blog, that is if it is monitored at all
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 10:16 PMsms
I wasn’t comparing Catriona Ruane to a rodent. Merely alluding to my opinion that she is wounded and hapless. Google “the peter principle” for what i think of her. I’m ok about the moderators deleting the post, but,you are reading stuff into a post which was simply whimsical.
I do think, someone should put her out of her metaphorical misery, Is that better? Maybe she could be in charge of the Republic of West Belfast festival!Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 10:48 PMsms,
also what about Driftwood’s incitement to bash fenians over the head with a hammer?
After all the metaphorical bashing over the head the quareone from the wessht has had she appears to have produced moderate compromise proposals. No doubt the DUP will agree after minor tweaking and after major spin to make out they have changed them completely.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 10:48 PMLast week the mantra was delivering maximum change. This week, change. Next week? A return to Latin and Greek?
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 10:50 PMCatriona Ruane is one of the least able politicians I have ever seen. Thus far she has managed not only to fail to convince the Unionists about her argument, but also lose the support of the SDLP. And all the while talking non-committal gibberish about educationalists and change. I felt she actually got off lightly on Hearts and Minds. Noel Thompson, although willing to press, lacks the sheer brute ignorance of the likes of Paxman needed to expose politicians like Ms. Ruane.
In fairness though, the Unionist parties brought this on themselves by not taking the education ministry. Had they done that, I doubt much would have been said if they had quietly abolished Martin McGuinness’ timeline for the end of academic selection, possibly doing away with the 11+, which it must be said is a pretty unfair test, and replacing it with a different form of academic selection. I think Unionists are much more forceful in their attachment to academic selection than the Nationalist parties are in their opposition.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 11:01 PMWell if the DUP dont play ball she could change her proposals for selection to be based on tests through the medium of Irish and cumpulsory Gaelic sports in all schools - starting with Limivady.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7401104.stm
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 11:08 PMCatriona Ruane
“The peter principle”google it Sammy
It will all become clear.
oh and lighten up for heavens sake. I know your trying to protect SF’s Icarus, but she’s a goner, In 2 years noone will ever have known she ever existed, sort of like Francie Molloy, Does anyone remember Sean McStiofan (sp?) Daithi (David) O Connell?
At least Cathal Goulding had a legacy.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 11:24 PMPete
See f_d at point 5.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 11:32 PM“I’m the Minister for Education.”
“I’m going to press ahead.”
Repeat as necessary. Again. And again. And again.
Any chance of some actual action to follow all the meaningless hot air?
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 11:50 PMDid anyone see Ruane on H&M;tonight?
Inept is a term one could use, but we were all laughing convulsively in our house, She was pathetic, I,I,I,am going to do this and that. She was going to huff and puff etc until she blew the grammar schools down.
The unionist parties could not have commissioned better marketing.
Well, the SDLP have been given a penalty shootout with no opposing goalkeeper. Captain Mark, whose 1st choice taker?
Actually, and I mean this, I felt sorry for her at the end, in the same way as I did when I seen pictures of Amy Winehouse, Gazza or Britney in recent times. She needs help badly. But is it possible to section her? Or does she need to acknowledge her illness first?
Just sad. I hope she gets the psychiatric help she desperately needs. Is it possible for SF to seek govt.funding for the Priory or could they all not chip in?Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:17 AMNoel Thompson was woeful - yes be pressed her about inability to get her proposals passed the Executive - but every time she cited ‘educationalists’ he should have quoted each of the seven polls showing majority - and cross community support for academic selection.
BBC NI interviewer afriad to be tough on Sinn Fein.
Remember Devenport having his knuckles rapped for asking ‘stupid’ questions? Never happened again.Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:18 AMYou know, this is the first big disagreement between SF and the DUP, unlike the battle a day that was forecast.
How this plays out will tell us whether or not we have a viable system of government.Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:56 AMNoel was tiptoeing, but Ruane was ignorant, wanton and , to put it bluntly, stupid and crass.
yes she kept using the term “educationalists”, Is that teachers? But her whole demeanour was that of someone who lost the plot long ago. To mis paraphrase -Will noone relieve us of this mischievous “educationalist”?
desperate stuff.Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 01:02 AMjoeCanuck
“How this plays out will tell us whether or not we have a viable system of government.”
I would suggest that how this has developed thus far allows you to make that judgement. The system is disfunctional and not fit for purpose. Ms Ruane may be the catalyst for proper coalition government with collective responsibility, a programme for government and an opposition all operating without sectarian designations for the 72 MLAs we need.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 01:09 AMI’m just waiting to hear that this has all been brought about by educrats working behind the scenes to destabalise the process.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 01:54 AMMs Ruane may be the catalyst for proper coalition government with collective responsibility, a programme for government and an opposition all operating without sectarian designations for the 72 MLAs we need.
Posted by BonarLaw on May 16, 2008 @ 01:09 AM
I know what you are getting at as it does show the how the current executive is failing to work properly. I however do not believe there is a system where sectarian designations can be ruled out for certain issues. There are still aspects of our lives quite clearly divided along Nationalist/Unionist lines. Its a sad fact we need this but I don’t see people agreeing to simple majority rule.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 02:27 AMthe 72 MLAs we need.
I think that’s too many, Bonarlaw. I would suggest 52 is more than enough.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 03:12 AM“yes she kept using the term “educationalists”, Is that teachers? “
Hard to say, could be sex predators or anything.
I gather, the proposed SF sex offender ban only applies to parks & streets in West Belfast.
Schools are apparently different. It is a two-tier approach by Gerry Adams, or Big Brother No1 as we call him here on his home turf.
I gather some of Barack Obama’s lot have been hassling people over here for a few answers.
Nowt to do with me, I’m opposed to dandruff and Jay Z lyrics.
It could get interesting.
G.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 03:47 AM
