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Northern Ireland election

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A lack of hot air

  • Mark Devenport
  • 20 Mar 07, 03:49 PM

After signing the roll last week, our MLAS had their first day's proper work today. If you aren't a law lord, barrister, solicitor or parliamentary draftsperson most of the arguments about the new ministerial code and standing orders would have had your eyes glazing over. The dynamic was the SDLP opposing what they regarded as unnecessary changes to the Good Friday Agreement rules and the DUP buldozering them through. Sinn Fein appeared happy to see the rule changes made. Even if the MLAs had not been able to agree, Peter Hain retained the power to impose the new rules in any case.

With the deadline looming you have to wonder why the DUP is putting so much work into the changes if it does not intend to put the new rules to the test very soon.

Ian Paisley was obviously suffering - he complained about a faulty clock in the chamber and a gust of cold air - which he described as "stepmother's breath". The Speaker Eileen Bell agreed that the politicians would be a lot more comfortable if they could introduce more hot air - a return to their natural environment.

Comments   Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 02:33 PM on 21 Mar 2007,
  • Ulster25 wrote:

Oh come on, Mark. Just because some things are difficult or technical doesn't mean they are not important. How Ministers relate to each other, to the Executive, to North-South bodies and the role of specialist advisors are really important matters for how our politics will work. You don't even tell us what the key changes are and what they will mean in practice - if we get devolution.

  • 2.
  • At 07:16 PM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • Pandora wrote:

I've just seen an advertisement in a national newspaper and think that possibly the NIO has nobbled Marks & Spencer into supporting a return of the Assembly. It reads:

'Plan A...Because there is no Plan B'.

However, there is no suggestion from M&S that Dervla Kerwin is to become the new Speaker, which is disappointing!

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