Stakeholder

THE WEEK THAT WAS….

According to Michael Winner, there’s a saying in the movie industry that: “There’s no such thing as a rubbish movie until it’s released.”  Given that Empire Magazine described one of his films, ‘Parting Shots’, as being so rubbish that “if you tried to bury it in landfill the other rubbish would climb out”, Mr. Winner may have a particular insight.

Does the same principle ring true of political deals?  Last week’s Hillsborough Agreement was launched to much fanfare and some head scratching as the seemingly unbridgeable chasm between the main parties was crossed as if they hadn’t a care in the world.

As the Hillsborough details were digested it became clear that negotiations hadn’t actually been concluded; three working groups have been commissioned to sort out parades, outstanding issues from the St. Andrews Agreement and to provide some counseling to help the Executive come to terms with its dysfunctional multi-personalities.

So while there may be a date for the devolution of P&J, that date depends entirely on a satisfactory outcome to the parades issue.  As the First Minister pointed out, the DFM isn’t the only one with Samson-like powers to bring the whole House down.  

In Northern Ireland politics it would appear that the cuddly Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is the new pin-up boy – everyone wants access to the nuclear option.  Some people thought that the DUP overplayed their cards by tying parading into P&J, but the UUP leader has suggested that he’ll not sign up unless Education is sorted out (it’s anyone’s guess which is more intractable).  Even the Alliance party has started to play hardball, refusing to nominate its Justice Minister candidate until matters are resolved to its satisfaction.

Having come this far, it’s hard to imagine that the parties will put the electorate through another high-wire act in just a couple of weeks.  Perhaps mutually assured nuclear destruction is the only way to get things done round here.  Trouble is, one day somebody’s trigger finger is going to slip.  Don’t they watch good movies like Dr. Strangeglove?

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Oral Answers

Nothing terribly exciting from the DFM, but he did note that work was afoot to examine a North / South Parliamentary Forum and that apart from parades, OFMDFM plans to introduce Bills this year for an Older People’s Commissioner and a Victims & Survivors service.  The Health Minister, not unreasonably, bemoaned his dilemma of balancing rising demand for services with financial pressures which may lead to front line cuts.

The DRD Minister rattled his way through an impressive 12 questions ranging from Coleraine Harbour to the Strangford Ferry.  He also confirmed that he is preparing a Bill for Belfast’s new Rapid Transit system.  The DSD Minister is hoping to facilitate 200 new housing association homes at Girdwood Barracks in North Belfast and advised that her Executive Colleagues won’t stump up £5m for a Mortgage Relief Scheme.

Written Answers

DARD noted that 1.2% of agriculture land is farmed organically, Education has spent £121K on advertising to fill eight senior jobs at the Education & Skills Authority, DEL revealed that the drop-out rate for STEM students at FE Colleges is 9% and DETI disclosed that 11,400 people defaulted on their electricity and gas bills last year.

DoE will not be delisting any sites at the former Maze Prison, DFP noted that NI’s 11 Departments employ 25,000 (down 11% since 2005) and DRD put the cost of gritting roads in Craigavon and Banbridge at £16K per day.  DSD estimates that 14% of those sleeping rough in Belfast are foreign nationals.

COMMITTEES

DARD was scrutinising the Forestry Bill twig by twig, DFP was gearing up for the 2010 Budget Bill, DRD was considering utilities price controls and Environment was spiced up by an allegation that planners had been politically ‘stepped on’ over an application in Dundonald. 

DCAL warmed up for a Ministerial briefing on stadia development, PAC was examining the resettlement of long-stay patients and Health said ‘cheese’ for a session with the British Dental Association.

AND FINALLY….

It’s hard not to feel sorry for the Health Minister; lumbered with decisions of a truly life and death nature.  While there’s always scope for efficiencies, providing a first class health service in an era of disappearing budgets isn’t going to be easy. 

MLAs, however, are complaining that it’s not just the budget that’s disappeared.  Sue Ramsey (Sinn Fein, West Belfast) pointed out that between April 09 and February 2010 the Minister attended just 20 out of 51 health debates – a meagre 39% hit rate.

It’s not much comfort, but that’s still a better innings than the uptake of swine flu vaccinations – only a third of the total purchased has actually been administered.  No doubt the Minister can look forward to being lambasted for squandering public finances by the same people who lambasted him for not buying more vaccine last year. 

Don’t think there’ll be much of a queue for the Health job after the next Assembly election….