Lee Reynolds

A Radio 4 producer wants to organise a debate on Welsh language promotion. A simple enough proposition, however, she can’t find anyone to be a public critic. Her research has led her to many critics of the present approach but they have a deep reluctance to do so publicly. The three main criticisms she has came across are the value for money of the investment, the potential harm to the career prospects of non-speakers and attitudes of speakers to non-speakers. …

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Newly elected Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, is to visit Northern Ireland in the coming weeks. First Minister, Ian Paisley, praised Salmond’s political skills and believes that the devolved administrations need to work together: “There are things Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have in common that if we go to the British Government in harness, we will get more out of them.” When the dust settles in Cardiff, will the Welsh first minister buy-in? How will Gordon ‘clunking fist’ Brown …

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Green MLA, Brian Wilson, has called for the new Assembly to seek tax-raising powers equivalent to the Scottish parliament as part of reforming the local rates system. He argues the present rates system particuarly harms single person householders. Full motion here.The other three motions concentrate on health, Alliance want a cost benefit analysis of free perscriptions while Sinn Fein raise mental health provision for children and adolescents and the treatment of children in state care. Lee Reynolds

In one of its first acts of business, the under-representation of females in Ulster politics will be debated. The UUP wants the Assembly to join the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The SDLP are concerned about North-South rail links and US policy towards illegal/undocumented immigrants. Full motions here.BTW the SDLP motion calls for a donation to the organisation campaigning in the US, the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. Could one of our US readers clarify for me is that permissible for a …

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If they succeed in forming a minority government, the SNP plans to reduce the Scottish Executive to 6 ministries, with a ministerial team of 6 full ministers and 10 junior ministers. This would be a reduction from the previous administration’s 11 departments and 21 ministerial positions. With the future structures of the NI Executive under review, could it prove a useful model? Lee Reynolds

There is continuing speculation that there will be a Drumcree parade this year (registration reqd). It is claimed DFM Martin McGuinness and Spike Murray have been talking to community groups in Portadown. One option is that the Somme memorial parade would be completed on the actual anniversary which falls on a Sunday this year. It seems the new CoI Archbishop is also keen for it to be resolved. Lee Reynolds

The latest Red C poll has Fine Gael gaining at Fianna Fail’s expense, with a FG/Lab Coalition 3% ahead of FF/PDs. Although 18% of those polled remain undecided. Full results below.FF 35 (-2) FG 29 (+3) LAB 12 (no change) SF 7 (-1) GR 6 (-2) PD 3 (+1) OTH 8 (+1) Lee Reynolds

Michael McGimpsey, Minister for Health, does not believe the present budget proposals will be increased by Gordon Brown. Lee Reynolds

First Minister Ian Paisley and RoI Prime Minister Bertie Ahern are to meet at the Boyne site today. Paisley has rejected opposition claims that it will boost Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fail’s election campaign. The visitor centre is due to open next spring. Lee Reynolds

The Superintendents Association NI has called for present investigations into the past to stop. Instead, they want government to establish a ‘public body’ that will examine the past. Lee Reynolds

Peter Robinson and Jeffrey Donaldson are to be appointed Privy Councillors. UTV is reporting this is to enable them to have direct access to the latest intelligence. They will be charged with a monitoring role along with DUP Policing Board members. Lee Reynolds

Jim Allister has called on DUP Minister Edwin Poots to stop the present consultation process for an Irish Language Act but Janet Muller of Pobal is claiming injustice.Jim Allister argues that the process thus far has not followed proper procedures: “I believe the process by which things reached this far has been corrupted by political decisions which rode roughshod over fundamental equality law requirements. I invite you to agree. In consequence, I contend the present consultation process is irretrievably tainted …

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East Antrim DUP MLA and Grand Master of the Independent Orange Order, George Dawson has died after a short illness. Lee Reynolds

The SNP is having problems finding a coalition partner and may go for a minority administration. The sticking point is a referendum on independence. However, rather than run scared of such a referendum could it be the best option to stop the march of the SNP? The media hype around the SNP advances underestimates the under-lying strength of the Unionist parties. Also the nominal ‘defeat’ in the 1979 Scottish referendum contributed to electoral reversal and internal disputes for the SNP …

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The first real test for the “one common voice will have more impact” theory doesn’t seem to be going well. Lee Reynolds

The SNP has achieved significant advances in the Scottish elections (* more below the fold). Part of the SNP’s electoral strategy was the party leadership standing in target not safe seats. Alex Salmond took the greatest risk running in Gordon, eighteenth on the SNP’s target list, and it paid off. The seat was won with almost twice the national swing to the SNP. Unionism will be targeting South Belfast and Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the forthcoming Westminster elections. The …

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In the World Today, the Chatham House magazine, Jack Straw has returned to the theme of developing and teaching a positive British story. He first argued for this at the Cyril Foster lecture in January and has been a theme of Gordon Brown, who’s leadership campaign Jack is running. He wants freedom to be at the centre of the narrative: That means freedom through the narrative of the Magna Carta, the civil war, the Bill of Rights, through Adam Smith …

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Willie Hay, DUP MLA for Foyle, is expected to be appointed the new speaker of the Assembly with Sinn Fein’s Francie Molloy to be a principal deputy speaker. Lee Reynolds

The abandonment of a recruitment exercise for the NIHRC Chief Commissioner and a new process that led to the appointment of Monica McWilliams is to be scrutinised by an Industrial Tribunal. John Cushnahan, the former Alliance Party leader and Fine Gael MEP, was the best candidate in the abandoned process and he has alleged discrimination in the appointment. Lee Reynolds

Tom Geoghegan examines the impact of gay rights campaigning in the context of the introduction of the Equality Act in England and Wales. However the article raises a question applicable to all equality and rights campaigning, when is the job done? If strong legislation is in place with regulatory bodies to enforce is it time to think success has been achieved? Time to shift from campaigning to monitoring? Or new sources of complaint to be found and raised? Lee Reynolds