NI Executive – Page 26 – Slugger O'Toole

Belfast City Airport passenger limit reinstated

Pete Baker on October 25, 2011, 3:03 pm

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Having launched a consultation on the 2 million passenger seats per 12 month restriction on Belfast City Airport in June last year, the then Northern Ireland Environment Minister, the DUP’s Edwin Poots, announced in December 2010 Environment Minister Edwin Poots today announced his decision to remove the seats for sale restriction at George Best Belfast City Airport (GBBCA). Mr Poots explained: “Having given the matter careful consideration and taken into account the issues raised in response to the consultation, I have decided …

GCSE reform: “It is unlikely that the Minister’s decision on this issue would stop the current position…”

Pete Baker on October 10, 2011, 5:25 pm

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In June this year the UK Government’s Education Secretary, Michael Gove, welcomed Ofqual’s proposals for making changes for GCSE courses and, on 27 September, a consultation was launched on changes to the current GCSE specifications in England. Today the Northern Ireland Education Minister, Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd, launched a consultation on on making the same changes to current GCSE specifications here. In England the consultation ends on 4 November, here it continues until 30 December. According to the Northern Ireland consultation document [pdf file] It is …

Public sector pensions: “we didn’t think they would make the decision behind closed doors.”

Pete Baker on October 7, 2011, 4:21 pm

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The news that the Northern Ireland Executive agreed a blanket increase of 3.2 per cent in public-sector pension contributions at a meeting last month, but failed to mention the fact, has led to the Unite union regional secretary, Jimmy Kelly, accusing the NI Executive and Assembly of acting “in a cowardly fashion”. From today’s Irish News Jimmy Kelly, Irish regional secretary, hit out at what he described as “the underhand decision” not to publicise news of the increase which only came …

In “the spirit of co-operation…”

Pete Baker on October 5, 2011, 4:35 pm

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As the dust settled on the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in May, the BBC reported Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said that he wanted to see “more realism” from the UUP and SDLP. “I would like to see those parties as well as the Alliance Party working in the spirit of co-operation,” he said. “If Peter Robinson and I can work together, then surely all of those parties can work with us.” If “those parties as well as the Alliance Party” …

“I wouldn’t suggest that the executive’s programme for government is quite so meaningless…”

Pete Baker on October 5, 2011, 2:01 pm

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The once and future Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, and Sinn Féin’s candidate in the Irish Presidential race, Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA, is keen to promote his “strong track record in seeking Foreign Direct Investment, leading important Trade Missions and attracting investment and jobs”. But, as Mark Devenport highlights from the leaked draft programme for government, [as with so many things… – Ed] that’s only half the story. However, glancing at the draft obtained this week by my colleague Martina Purdy, you …

Stay classy, Carál…

Pete Baker on September 21, 2011, 8:05 pm

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Good heavens! You’re the culture minister… UTV has the censored version. And here’s the other half of the “satirical exchange”. Pete Baker

“When you’re a political party you have to act like a political party…”

Pete Baker on September 19, 2011, 4:46 pm

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Fianna Fáil may have their own problems at the moment but, before Sinn Féin showed its hand on the presential election, Fianna Fáil party leader Micheál Martin was telling some home truths about the performance of the Northern Ireland Executive. The former Minister for Foreign Affairs said he had first hand experience of how poorly Sinn Fein had performed in the Northern Ireland Executive. He said: “Just look at Sinn Fein’s performance in government in Northern Ireland, it’s been pretty …

Adams Proposes McGuinness to be Sinn Féin Candidate for Áras

Pete Baker on September 16, 2011, 5:23 pm

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Which would seem to guarantee that the current Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA, will be the party’s candidate in the Irish Presidential election. I have to say that I didn’t believe the rumours, but RTÉ are quoting the Sinn Féin president, and Louth TD, Gerry Adams “This is a time of great challenge for all the people of Ireland. We need positive but authentic leadership. It will be a great honour for me to propose …

“the scheme was poorly planned, badly managed and did not provide good value for money”

Pete Baker on September 16, 2011, 2:50 pm

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We’ve already seen the Northern Ireland Audit Office report criticising the NI Department of Agriculture’s handling of the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme – the largest capital grant scheme ever run by the Department of Agriculture, through which some 4000 farmers received grants worth £121million. Now the BBC have reported that a draft report from the NI Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, due to be published in 3 weeks time, will be equally damning. From the BBC report It is expected to conclude that …

Scrapping plan for on-street parking charges across NI leaves £8.8m hole

Pete Baker on September 13, 2011, 3:14 pm

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As the BBC reports, Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, the UUP’s Danny Kennedy, has shelved his predecessor, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy’s, plans to extend on-street parking charges to 30 towns and cities across Northern Ireland. Leaving a £8.8million hole in his budget. From the BBC report The minister now has an £8.8m hole in his budget because of the projected revenue lost from on-street parking. He said this would have to be plugged by making cuts in other areas. “Given …

“David Ford’s department is like Jurassic Park.”

Pete Baker on September 12, 2011, 8:53 pm

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Apparently, according to BBC NI’s Martina Purdy, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly, MLA, Northern Ireland Junior Minister Policing Board member, gave “a fiery speech on the Police Ombudsman” at the party’s ard fheis at the weekend. It’s not listed in the party’s collection… [Added by AlaninBelfast …] In the Irish News today, Diana Rusk says he went “off script” when telling the Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, that he “must face down the dinosaurs” in the PSNI. Being “off script” might explain why Gerry Kelly seems to have borrowed his …

“A considerable element of this will be financed by charging higher fees to students from England, Scotland and Wales.”

Pete Baker on September 12, 2011, 5:41 pm

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With the headlines grabbed on Thursday, and the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers off to Hollywood [USA], the only thing left for Employment and Learning Minister, Stephen Farry, to do was to inform the NI Assembly of the details on tuition fees. According to the BBC report “These decisions are a clear indication that the executive is working for Northern Ireland,” [Stephen Farry] said. “For our future students, for our graduates and indeed for their families and the economy. “A considerable element of …

NI University tuition fees to be kept at current levels, “subject only to an inflationary rise”

Pete Baker on September 8, 2011, 7:18 pm

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As the BBC reports, Northern Ireland Employment and Learning Minister, Stephen Farry, has confirmed that the bread promised by the First and deputy First Ministers in July, will be on the menu. But we’ll have to wait until Monday to see the details – the NI Assembly being the appropriate place to make such an announcement. [But we need headlines now! – Ed] Indeed. Those details would include whether or not the proposals include students from England, Scotland and Wales. Because there …

Quote of the day: “Isn’t this where you used to meet Gerry Adams?”

Pete Baker on August 29, 2011, 12:17 am

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From David Hare’s spy drama Page Eight, broadcast tonight on BBC2. A senior MI5 officer, Johnny Worricker, played by Bill Nighy, is investigating the sudden death of his close friend, and Director General of MI5, Benedict Baron [Michael Gambon]. In the aftermath of the death, a journalist, Rollo Maverley [Ewen Bremner], who is also an MI5 operative paid to release information into the public domain, arranges a meeting at an anonymous motorway diner. The following exchange takes place. [Johnny Worricker]: ” A ‘Road House’? Rather a come-down isn’t it? …

“That is just the sort of old boy’s network…”

Pete Baker on August 26, 2011, 11:45 pm

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Given the latest controversy at the intersection of politics and policing, it’s worth pointing to Liam Clark’s comments on a previous disagreement over operational matters. From the Belfast Telegraph article In a modern democracy, politicians are expected to allow the police the operational independence to follow up whatever leads come up – even if many of them turn out to be false. The alternative would be for detectives to ring up senior politicians and to ask which suspects could be vouched for …

“there are these enormous delays and they are holding up cases at all levels”

Pete Baker on August 24, 2011, 3:27 pm

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The BBC reports comments by senior judge, Mr Justice Hart, criticising the lack of “properly resourced” and “properly organised” forensic science facilities in Northern Ireland. From the BBC report The judge said: “There is an entirely unacceptable and unjustified and indeed gross delay on the part of the relevant authorities in dealing with the analysis of what is alleged to be in this instance cannabis. “I’m not in any way seeking to attach blame to individuals concerned, but there is …

Questions remain over Lillis release

Pete Baker on August 21, 2011, 7:38 pm

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Given the high-profile campaigning on the case, the Northern Ireland Parole Commissioners’ uncommon statement about their apparent u-turn in re-releasing on licence former Provisional IRA member, Brendan Lillis, fails to address concerns of political interference in that process. Here’s what the commissioners are reported to have said In a statement they said: “The Parole Commissioners have been tasked with making decisions about prisoners according to established procedures. “All decisions made by commissioners comply rigorously with these procedures and they have not departed from …

“We were painting out political statements…”

Pete Baker on August 17, 2011, 2:33 pm

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The North Belfast News provides an example from the New Lodge area in north Belfast of what happens when “the guerillas” become “the people in power”, and are “pilloried as ‘traitors’ by their young challengers”. From the North Belfast News The day after the clean-up fresh graffiti was daubed on the walls in the Carlisle area of the New Lodge. The slogans included ‘Oppose British Internment’, ‘Free Marian Price’ and ‘Support the POWs’. “We were painting out political statements and …

“it is a distant aspiration that fails to motivate anything other than occasional nostalgia”

Pete Baker on August 15, 2011, 4:28 pm

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The News Letter reports some interesting quotes from former senior Provisional IRA member, now an organiser of the Independent Workers’ Union, Tommy McKearney’s new book – The Provisional IRA: From Insurrection to Parliament. From the News Letter report The ardent socialist, who now organises the Independent Workers’ Union, says that Sinn Fein has become increasingly right wing as it has gone further and further into government at Stormont, where, he argues, “contrary to talk of power-sharing, the [Stormont] administration is almost …

Quick. Look busy…

Pete Baker on August 8, 2011, 2:18 pm

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Whether you’re the UK Home Secretary keen to be seen to be responding to riots on the streets of London, or the Northern Ireland Finance Minister calling a local “emergency meeting” about a global financial crisis. Appearances are everything… [Until someone asks a “stupid” question – Ed] Indeed. Pete Baker