NI Executive – Page 29 – Slugger O'Toole

“We are going to proceed with the Altnagelvin extension [] and that’s the end of the matter.”

Pete Baker on March 29, 2011, 9:31 pm

| Readers 39

The Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers’ separately declared commitment to reverse the NI Health Minister’s decision to postpone the funding of a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin hospital is yet another populist move without regard to budgetary considerations – this time just ahead of an election. It also undermines the position of the smaller parties at the NI Executive table and the authority of the Executive itself. From the BBC report Mr Robinson said it could be overturned on the …

“The [Justice] department dissolves on 1 May 2012 unless…”

Pete Baker on March 29, 2011, 3:54 pm

| Readers 25

As BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport reminds us, one of the oddities of our current ‘indigenous’ arrangements is that we can be fairly sure of one outcome of this election for the Alliance Party. As long as at least one member of that party is returned to the NI Assembly it’s virtually guaranteed that they – most likely David Ford – will be the next NI Justice Minister. As Mark Devenport points out. Yesterday, on Inside Politics, I presented the first …

Where is the corporation tax debate?

Brian Walker on March 27, 2011, 2:33 pm

| Readers 19

The corporation tax debate in Northern Ireland is unusual within the pattern of development for UK devolution. In our case, it’s the UK minister who is pushing and prodding the local administration fearful of permanent cuts to the block grant to bid for taxation powers, rather than the other way round as in Scotland and Wales. Three months to consult is practically nothing bearing in mind that the period straddles the May election, when any thinking will be at a …

“Sinn Féin needs to change”

Pete Baker on March 25, 2011, 3:49 pm

| Readers 91

At the time it was announced, the BBC reported that Sinn Féin MLA Paul Butler “denied he was retiring from party politics because of disappointment at not being given a chance to run in West Belfast”. Although, as I noted, someone was briefing the Irish News otherwise… And in an interview in today’s paper, political correspondent Diana Rusk reports For the first time, [Paul Butler] confirmed reports that he had wanted to run for the party in West Belfast after boundary …

Loreto Grammar School decision “an abuse of power”

Pete Baker on March 25, 2011, 1:28 pm

| Readers 203

As the BBC reports, Belfast High Court has delivered a damning ruling in the judicial review of the Northern Ireland Education Minister, Sinn Féin’s Caitriona Ruane’s decision not to fund a £14.6million new build for, Catholic, Loreto College Loreto Grammar School, Omagh. [corrected school name] From the BBC report …Justice McCloskey concluded that the conduct, delay and inactivity of the minister and department officials frustrated the legitimate expectation of the governors that a new Loreto Grammar School, financed by public funding, would be built …

‘Temporary’ 50:50 recruitment provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 to End

Pete Baker on March 22, 2011, 4:58 pm

| Readers 111

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise… As the BBC reports, the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, published the Government’s response [pdf file] to the public consultation on the temporary 50:50 recruitment provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. From Owen Paterson’s statement Owen Paterson said: “Some ten years after the introduction of the provisions, a significant proportion of serving officers – currently 29.76% – are now from a Catholic community background. This is at the top …

Six former PMS directors facing disqualification identified

Pete Baker on March 21, 2011, 3:25 pm

| Readers 146

As previously noted, the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Industry had written to six directors of the [in adminstration] Presbyterian Mutual Society [PMS] to inform them that the department has decided “that it is in the public interest to seek disqualification orders” against them. And as I said then. A sceptic might ask whether the disqualifications are connected to the announcement by the UK Chancellor in October of a £25million grant and a £175million loan to the NI Executive for the PMS [reg …

NI Executive: “Never mind the quality, feel the width…”

Pete Baker on March 19, 2011, 4:40 pm

| Readers 5

An interesting analogy from BBC NI’s Jim Fitzpatrick in an accurate depiction of the dysfunctional nature of our ‘indigenous’ arrangements. From Jim Fitzpatrick’s article It would be unfair to criticise the parties for a lack of delivery, whenever all they were expected to deliver was “themselves” to the finishing line. But as they head into an election seeking a mandate for a new term in office, it will be interesting to see what expectations are for the new term. And …

“Martin McGuinness’s “veto” throws down challenge to “voluntary” coalition

Brian Walker on March 14, 2011, 6:33 pm

| Readers 4

One of the most predictable pre-election statements of the season, vouchsafed to Liam Clarke. However sound according to the system, Martin McGuinness’ “veto” seems rather less than absolute in practice, should the UUP and the SDLP refuse to take up Executive seats after the election – and boycott D’Hondt. It would surely provoke a crisis in the Assembly. But to what end? Could it really force a ” voluntary coalition?” Is this really what voters want? Above all, how keenly will …

“If the Executive took a needs based approach rather than a politically expedient route…”

Pete Baker on March 11, 2011, 3:09 pm

| Readers 29

As BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport says of the announced Northern Ireland Executive approval of a “package of circa £138million [to] be used to upgrade regional stadiums at Windsor Park, Ravenhill and Casement Park, and take forward sub regional stadium developments for football.” …one aspect of the announcement which is questionable is its very symmetry. If the Executive took a needs based approach rather than a politically expedient route, would both the GAA and Soccer require exactly £61.4 million? I know …

Budget splits show Mad Hatter’s tea party at Stormont will continue

Brian Walker on March 10, 2011, 1:23 pm

| Readers 7

Comment on the Northern Ireland Budget depressingly illustrates the gap between the politics and what matters far more, the policy. Political chatter flows easily from the keyboard, policy analysis is something else and is presumed to bore readers and the TV and radio audience. I don’t know what it does for you but concentrating so much on the Assembly politics of it all fails to impress. Who seriously believes that many votes in May will be won or lost on the basis …

“it’s something that certainly never happened under the stewardship of Tony Blair or Gordon Brown.”

Pete Baker on March 7, 2011, 8:14 pm

| Readers 15

The visit by the British Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband, to Stormont today may have come as a surprise to the press [and the NI Labour Party… – Ed], but the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers were ready with their latest whinge. Apparently the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, isn’t prepared to meet them just to listen to their special little pleading. From the breakingnews.ie report Also accusing the coalition British government of backtracking on financial commitments made during the peace …

“the guiding principle for our final budget.”

Pete Baker on March 5, 2011, 11:27 pm

| Readers 1

Some points to note about the final budget as presented to the Assembly. From the Northern Ireland Finance Minister’s statement. Also, the Executive has agreed to introduce a measure of over-commitment on both the current and capital side. The overcommitment of £30 million per annum on both current and capital is really a ’self-help’ facility, made possible by better financial management across the public sector and the many revenue generating opportunities identified by departments. I believe that, in this context, …

The breakdown of health service cuts revealed

Brian Walker on February 23, 2011, 10:04 am

| Readers 7

The scale of cuts to the Health Service, – a service that’s supposed to be ring fenced but now subject to lower rates of investment – is revealed by a union-sponsored website False Economy and extracted by the Guardian’s Data Blog. The info is collated from FoI requests throughout the UK . A long scroll down reveals the damage to NI services – a total of over 2,500 posts. They included 280 posts in the ambulance service Of these at …

Trench warfare, kamikaze style…

Pete Baker on February 22, 2011, 7:46 pm

| Readers 4

The Northern Ireland Executive’s trench warfare continued today with NI deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, issuing a statement claiming that the UUP and the SDLP “were lobbying for public money for their parties in talks with the British government in exchange for adopting an oppositional role in the Assembly.” Well, it’s a variation on his last claim, but the UUP are arguing of the need for a properly funded opposition by 2015. But the SDLP have denied Martin McGuinness’ claim, and they’ve issued a robust statement of …

“Trench warfare has erupted…”

Pete Baker on February 22, 2011, 2:41 pm

| Readers 6

Via Newshound. In the Sunday Times Liam Clarke welcomes the “trench warfare” the parties are engaging in over the Northern Ireland Executive’s draft spending plans. Apparently, it’s better than the sectarian squabbling that went before… ANYhoo… From the transcribed Sunday Times article The eruption of public anger and megaphone diplomacy reflects the poisonous atmosphere around the executive table itself. McGimpsey needled the furious McGuinness by saying, “calm down Martin, don’t get so excited”. McGuinness and Robinson are both accustomed to …

“this is significantly exacerbated by the political situation in Northern Ireland”

Pete Baker on February 21, 2011, 3:44 pm

| Readers 9

As well as those briefings by the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, both he and the NI First Minister have been dismissing political criticism of the draft NI Executive spending plans as ‘electioneering’. No doubt that’s a consideration for some, but it’s not a charge that can be levelled at the Assembly’s Finance Committee. And as the Belfast Telegraph reports, PricewaterhouseCooper’s economic analysis of those draft plans is that “the [NI] Budget may not be deliverable in its current form”. [Esmond Birnie, Chief Economist at PwC …

“I have heard it from very good authority…”

Pete Baker on February 19, 2011, 1:03 pm

| Readers 22

When is calling for a properly-funded opposition not a call for a properly-funded opposition? When it’s secret negotiations over compensation for lost ministerial funds… At least, that’s the line the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, has been busily spinning to anyone who will listen. And it comes “from very good authority”… “within the NIO”. [Ah, “the securocrats” – Ed] They’re on ‘our’ side this time! [They always were… – Ed] Indeed. Pete Baker

“Beards, fries, but no government…”

Pete Baker on February 18, 2011, 3:26 pm

| Readers 3

Crooked Timber’s Ingrid Robeyns ironically congratulates Belgium on setting a new world record without a government. As, indeed, do the Belgian people… 250 days and counting! Here’s a short CNN interview with Flemish comedian Geert Hoste And from a Guardian report On Thursday the word in Brussels was there would be fresh elections in April, a ballot likely to entrench the divide, deepen the crisis of political accountability and legitimacy, and result in yet further months of government-less squabbling. There is no talk of …

“That long term approach is not confined to policing…”

Pete Baker on February 17, 2011, 11:26 pm

| Readers 4

Confirmation that the UK government is to provide an additional £200million to help the PSNI combat the continuing, and increasing, terrorist threat here – over four years with £57.1m in 2011-12, £53.3m in 2012-13, £62.4m in 2013-14 and £26.7m in the final year. And the BBC report carries these comments from the NI Justice Minister, the Alliance Party’s David Ford. David Ford said he had worked closely with the Chief Constable “to ensure that the needs of Northern Ireland are recognised in …