THE WEEK THAT WAS….
Life is full of unintended consequences. When Coalition forces invaded Iraq they didn’t expect to unleash a sectarian civil war which would claim more casualties than the original invasion.
When the Tory right drove John Major’s Government into oblivion with the comforting thought that five years out of power would help them regroup, they didn’t imagine that 13-years later the party still wouldn’t be able to form a Government by itself. Likewise, at the end of Ghostbusters, Dan Aykroyd’s character didn’t intend to conjure up a 50ft Stay Puff Marshmallow Man whose intention it was to destroy the world.
When Unionists decided that a unity candidate was the best way to win back Fermanagh & South Tyrone, they didn’t anticipate that the SDLP vote in the constituency would collapse or that Sinn Fein would ‘stand aside’ in South Belfast to give Alasdair McDonnell a clear run. Nor did they expect debates about Unionist unity to spark similar debates among the ranks of Nationalists, especially not within the ranks of the SDLP Assembly team.
Thus, when the SDLP’s bookish Declan O’Loan (North Antrim) thought it would be a good idea to fly a few kites on the issue of Nationalist unity, more than a few eyebrows were raised. Indeed, such was the ire within the SDLP leadership that the former teacher (dubbed ‘Himself Alone’ by the Irish News) was given six of best before having the whip withdrawn indefinitely.
Given, however, that there is nothing marshmallow-like about Mr. O’Loan’s grey matter – he’s one of the few MLAs who can string together coherent thoughts on the complexities of Government finance without a well prepared script – it’s unlikely that the banishment will become permanent.
On the SDLP front benches the new DSD Minister, Alex Attwood, was, however, finding his gooey streak, taking a conciliatory approach with all and sundry. This is not the Alex Attwood we have all come to know and love. Hopefully normal service will return soon.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Oral Answers
The First Minister indicated he was happy for all MLAs to take a 5% pay cut, put the stalling of RPA down to uncertainties over how restructuring Local Govt. would actually deliver savings, reported little progress from the Treasury on the Presbyterian Mutual Society and noted that OFMDFM staff had the best absenteeism record in the NI Civil Service.
The new DSD Minister covered off town centre regeneration, Living Over the Shop schemes and plans to start 2,000 new social house units in the upcoming financial year. The Justice Minister talked up Cultural Diversity training for Prison Officers, assessed the current security situation and noted that over 500 people have been electronically tagged.
Written Answers
OFMDFM indicated the long expected CSI strategy will go out to public consultation in June while Jim ‘Strangford’ Shannon asked DARD to comment on its support for Glastry Ice Cream’s new ‘lavender’ flavour and what the DETI Minister was doing to promote jobs in Comber.
Environment was inundated with questions about redeploying Planning Officials, DFP confirmed that absenteeism in the Civil Service has fallen to 11 days from 15.5 days in 2003 / 04 and 452 people are on police bail in North Belfast according to Justice. DRD reported that Ulsterbus has over 30 buses in operation which are over 18-years olds and that it hopes to introduce legislation for Belfast Rapid Transit system this June.
COMMITTEES
The Health Minister had the dubious pleasure of discussing revised spending plans, Cockle Fishing was tickling DARD’s fancy and DFP was examining public sector efficiencies. DRD hitched a lift on Public Transport reform, Integrated Education was feeling all cross-community with Education and Environment considered how to squeeze more money out of Europe. DCAL was briefed on Museums’ strategy, Justice got up to speed with the Criminal Justice Inspectorate and DSD went for a jolly to the Slieve Donard.
AND FINALLY….
Unfortunately for Stormont, in what was a rather good week for work of the House – with measures to become the first region in the British Isles to tackle sunbed abuse and a commendable Private Members’ Bill from John McCallister (UUP South Down) to improve the lot of caravan owners – the debacle over RPA and the Maze site which have consumed millions but delivered nothing has rather taken the lustre off.
Given that the deficit squeeze means that we’re all going to be living on a diet which makes the WWII rationing recipe of Squirrel Tale Soup look positively appetising, such profligacy is not going to be popular.
Fortunately, though, a recent survey suggested that £57m is lurking down the back of sofas across the UK. We just need to find some time in the Finance Minister’s diary to visit the country’s 22 million households…..
