THE WEEK THAT WAS….
The UUP used to have a reputation as the party of ‘Big House’ Unionism, nowadays its getting more and more like Celebrity Big Brother House Unionism.
The tie up with Cameron’s Tories hasn’t been without its problems, but it has helped the party reach beyond its aging membership to some bright young(er) things with a bit of celebrity magic about them. Last year the UUs selected the Freddie Mercury impressionist Flash Harry as a candidate and they’ve now added the former rugby international Trevor Ringland and ex-UTV anchor man Mike Nesbitt to the fray.
Given the huge level of disenfranchisement with the political process and politicians, particularly among Unionists, the DUP is unlikely to enjoy the upcoming General Election, or indeed, Assembly election if the parties get strung up on Hillsborough’s loose ends.
During this week’s marathon Budget debates (it finished up at 9.48pm on Tuesday), the DUP’s Finance Minister was at pains to stress the Assembly’s achievements. These ranged from construction contracts which account for over half of employment in the sector to buying 66 new ambulances; there’s also been a marked improvement in the manner in which Departments manage their finances.
The problem for Sammy is that the public doesn’t particularly care about sound fiscal management or new ambulances – they’re the sort of deliverables that voters take as a starting point; there are no bonus points in politics for getting the basics right. Given that the current decision-making process means that it’s practically impossible to get cross-party agreement on anything particularly novel or daring (let alone what should be a fairly mundane item such as school transfer tests), it’s unlikely that the Executive – no matter who is FM or DFM – is going to inspire anyone anytime soon.
Sammy, however, has little option to put on a brave face and sell devolution. As Freddie Mercury (the real one, not the prospective candidate for Upper Bann) sang:
“The show must go on, I’ll face it with a grin, I’m never giving in….I’ll drop the bill, I’ll overkill, I have to find the will to carry on… on with the show….”
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Oral Answers
The FM noted that there are 17 papers relating to legislation currently sitting with the Executive, but that the Executive has processed 524 papers since devolution was restored in 2007 (compared to 320 by the last Assembly). The Department will also be trimming 51-full-time equivalent posts as part of its efficiency savings.
DARD covered off CAP, farm modernization and dangerous dogs, while the DCAL Minister was complaining that he had to return £750K to central funds because the motorsport fraternity had failed to drawdown sufficiently on a £1m safety fund.
Written Answers
OFMDFM revealed that the new Maze Development Corporation will be coming before the Floor of the House shortly, DARD confirmed it has no remit to create a NI Supermarket Ombudsman and DCAL argued that despite its recent ‘political power brokering’, the Orange Order was still entitled to funding.
Education disclosed that 99 pupils were caught cheating in GCSE and A Level exams last summer, DEL has to cut £1m from its efficiency budget and DETI noted that 33% of over 50s are in employment. According to DoE, Planning approved 75% of applications in areas of high scenic value in the past five years, Health has no plans to investigate concerns about the Tyrone-Cavan Interconnector while DSD revealed that 193 Jobs & Benefit staff were verbally abused last year.
COMMITTEES
DARD is still whittling the Forestry Bill into something beautiful as well as considering Dog Control and Animal Welfare Bills. DFP was contemplating strategic financial issues, DRD felt all ‘seasonal’ with a trip to Kilroot Salt Works and Education consulted the Literacy and Numeracy Taskforce.
The DoE twitchers had their eyes on the Wildlife & Natural Environment Bill, DCAL was still warming up for its sport participation inquiry and DETI was briefed about a Debt Relief Bill.
AND FINALLY….
During the Budget debate Alliance’s Dr. Farry (North Down) set off on a course to become a self styled “political kamikaze” by daring to suggest that the public pays for water services. His colleague Sean Neeson (East Antrim) committed ‘comedic kamikaze’ with a one liner that would have sunk the pride of the US Pacific Fleet.
Jumping upon a comment from David McNarry (UUP, Strangford) that DUP MLAs were hole-dwelling inhabitants of Middle Earth, Mr. Neeson suddenly realized why the UUP man wasn’t taking an intervention: “He is not in the hobbit of giving way”….
It’s been a quiet week.
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