Dysfunctional

Updated: “The second part of the investigation will be produced by two individuals appointed by the First Minister and deputy First Minister…”

Pete Baker on January 7, 2011, 12:37 am

| Readers 11

We now have the details of that “yet another expensive review” of NI Water, as annonunced by the Northern Ireland Executive. Despite concerns about the Utilities Regulator’s role expressed by, amongst others, the NI Consumer Council, that part of the review – proposed by the NI Regional Development Minister – stays in place. But they’ve added a second layer. And in time honoured fashion they don’t appear to have been able to agree to appoint a single person to review the Regulator’s review, …

“Clearly something has got to give…”

Pete Baker on December 23, 2010, 3:03 pm

| Readers 2

Unsurprising economic illiteracy aside, the political posturing in the draft Northern Ireland budget re-allocation comes at a cost. As Liam Clarke points out in the News Letter In October 2007 it was hoped, not unreasonably, that the shortfall could be met by selling government land and buildings into the booming property market. Stormont was like a family funding an extension by remortgaging its house, but unfortunately the bottom fell out of the property market almost as soon as the plan …

“making tough choices for the good of the country…”

Pete Baker on December 15, 2010, 12:32 pm

| Readers 6

And so it came to pass… After weeks of political posturing the Northern Ireland Executive stayed up late last night to discuss DUP/Sinn Féin proposals for the draft NI Budget. And with those two parties having enough votes in the Executive – the UUP and SDLP abstained with the Alliance Party’s minister agreeing the proposals – today the Assembly is being immediately bumped into passing agreeing the draft ahead of a public consultation… The title quote is Jim Fitzpatrick’s prediction of the spin from …

“No party should be playing politics [with the NI budget].”

Pete Baker on December 7, 2010, 1:36 pm

| Readers 3

With anonymous “republican sources” briefing anyone who will listen about tensions between the DUP and Sinn Féin over the still-to-be-agreed draft Northern Ireland budget, and while noting the DUP’s response reported here “The DUP has one approach to the budget,” [a DUP spokesman] said. “We are confident a budget will be put in place. “We are not playing politics with the budget. This is too important. “Families are struggling to pay mortgages. People are wondering if they are going to …

“Although the delivery timetable for local government has not yet been finalised by the Executive…”

Pete Baker on December 1, 2010, 4:27 pm

| Readers 10

The Northern Ireland Environment Minister, the DUP’s Edwin Poots, may be introducing a Planning Bill to the NI Assembly next week – with the intention to absorb Planning Service within the Department of the Environment before transferring planning powers to local councils. And he may be seeking views “on proposals aimed at modernising and strengthening local democracy”. But as he admits in his press release, the timetable for the proposed “transfer of Development Plan and Development Management powers to councils” has yet …

OFMDFM’s dilemma

Pete Baker on September 16, 2010, 2:06 pm

| Readers 14

Nevermind the Presbyterian moderator, at least he’s going to be there. Our own little Process™ might have got a special mention as Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Edinburgh today on his first ever state visit to the UK, but no-one from the Northern Ireland Executive was there to hear it – despite an invitation being sent to the Office of the First and deputy First Ministers. Apparently that’s what happens when you can’t meet the Pope/Queen without meeting the Queen/Pope… Adds An otherwise somewhat unbalanced BBC report notes …

Minister on “solo run with enormous financial implications” without Executive approval

Pete Baker on September 13, 2010, 10:49 pm

| Readers 88

What to make of the Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, Sinn Fein’s Conor Murphy’s, apparent declaration of intent over NI Water? Some would argue that the stated objective, of ‘re-nationalisation’ [within Northern Ireland] of the Water Service NI Water, was the main reason behind the ongoing saga. From the BBC report Finance Minister Sammy Wilson criticised Mr Murphy’s proposals as “expensive and unrealistic”. “Bringing Northern Ireland Water back, and he has admitted this himself, into full public ownership would have revenue consequences, making …

Dealing with cuts “will present the Executive with its biggest policy challenge to date”

Pete Baker on September 13, 2010, 3:36 pm

| Readers 4

There’s been much public posturing from the two main [mandatory] coalition parties here following comments by the Northern Ireland First Minister, the DUP’s Peter Robinson, about the expected cuts in public expenditure. Reported attempts by the deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, to play down suggestions of a split appear to have fallen on deaf, non-Ministerial, ears within his own party. Mark Devenport tells us that DUP sources reckon there’s a difference between the public line being pushed in Sinn …

“The alliance is dysfunctional…”

Pete Baker on August 29, 2010, 10:42 pm

| Readers 4

Not, for once, a reference to the alliance that operates mediates our semi-detached polit-bureau – although some similarities may be apparent. This time it’s South Africa, where the BBC reports on the threatened escalation of strike action by Confederation of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi. Some one million civil servants are already on strike but Cosatu’s total affiliated membership is double that. Mr Vavi said work would also halt in the key mining and manufacturing industries, while unions …

“If the [EU] Commission asks what progress has been made… the departments will be exposed”

Pete Baker on August 20, 2010, 10:34 pm

| Readers 8

BBC NI’s Mike McKimm reports on five years of failure to act by the Northern Ireland Departments of the Environment, and Agriculture, following a formal written warning from the EU Commission in 2005 over the plight of [protected species] horse mussel beds in Strangford Lough [added link]. A Freedom of Information request was involved. The ministers concerned did manage to summon the press for a photo-opportunity on the issue in January 2009. But that’s about the only activity we’ve seen. From the BBC report Again …

The semi-detached polit-bureau in action

Pete Baker on July 29, 2010, 3:17 pm

| Readers 9

They just can’t help themselves… Mr McGuinness was speaking at the official opening of the first high-speed road link between Belfast and Dublin. He said: “I think Peter Robinson and I will have more good news to announce in regard to the development of the Maze/Long Kesh site. “We have actually reached agreement and we will publicly announce how we intend to take that forward over the next very short while.” As both the BBC and UTV Press Association note …

Dysfunctional? Or just incompetent?

Pete Baker on June 22, 2010, 1:35 pm

| Readers 14

Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker has called on the NI Education Minister, Sinn Féin’s Caitriona Ruane, to apologise to the House after the minister failed to make a scheduled statement on her department’s programme of capital building schemes. From the BBC report The minister later explained she had mistakenly stayed in another meeting until 1033 BST, three minutes after she should have been addressing MLA’s. She also failed to supply MLAs with a copy of her statement half an hour before she was due …

NI Minister of State confirms 2011 local elections for 26 councils

Pete Baker on June 21, 2010, 3:55 pm

| Readers 27

The BBC notes confirmation from the NI Minister of State, Hugo Swire, MP, that local elections will be held in 2011 for the existing 26 councils. The decision follows the dysfunctional NI Executive’s semi-detached polit-bureau’s failure to agree on the proposed local government reform. From the report Mr Swire said he had written to the first and deputy first ministers confirming local elections in 2011 will be held to the existing 26 councils. The Minister said: “Like many, I am disappointed …

Semi-detached polit-bureau at loggerheads over Council reform

Pete Baker on June 10, 2010, 11:26 pm

| Readers 4

The BBC has the latest on the dysfunctional Northern Ireland Executive’s semi-detached polit-bureau’s failure to agree on local government reform Executive ministers have adjourned five-hour long meeting aimed at resolving the impasse over the future of local government. Ministers are due to meet again on Monday after further discussions over the weekend about a plan to reduce the 26 councils to 11. Pete Baker

New NI Attorney General Sworn In

Pete Baker on June 9, 2010, 10:43 pm

| Readers 27

As the BBC notes, Northern Ireland’s new Attorney General John Larkin was sworn in at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast today. After taking the oath, Mr Larkin pledged his full backing for the independence of barristers. “I intend to support our independent bar to the best of my ability,” he said. “What I do want to do here is to declare my firm view that an independent bar is a strong and protective force in and for the …