Answering apartheid
The Executive's honeymoon period is showing a few signs of cracking, what with Ian Jr's remarks over gays, Peter admonishing his colleagues over making rash spending promises and Sinn Fein arguing that the First Minister didn't set a good example by heading into a different lobby from the Deputy First Minister in a vote on the Single Equality Act.
At least the Office of First and Deputy First Minister will present a united front on June 11th when the top two have to answer their first questions from MLAs.
Well, not quite. Ian Paisley will take all the questions on June 11th. Then Martin McGuinness will go it alone the next time around. This is a change from the old question time format when David Trimble and his consorts used to sit side by side and take it question and question about.
So if you are an MLA wanting to ascertain the view of the OFMDFM on, say, gays, you might care to find out who is answering the questions on a given date. Oh, I forgot, when wearing their official hats all the ministers think the same about these issues.
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It is not the first time that Ian Paisley Jnr has commented on gay matters. It would appear the subject is a bit of an obsession with him and perhaps he should seek counselling from a sex therapist!
As a Junior Minister responsible for equality issues, maybe he could express his views on best practice for heterosexuals!
Dr Henry Adams of the University of Georgia conducted a study in 1996 that showed homophobic men were turned on by gay porn.
Read all about it here..
..then draw your own conclusions about IPJ.
Ian Paisley Jnr only commented on gay matters in response to a direct question put to him during the course of an interview.Like any other individual,in a Democracy he has the right to express his own personal opinion.
Of course in the P C .world we now live in some personal opinions are only respected or tolerated if they are seen to back up or condone minority groups'mantras.
Don,t forget the comments were made before Ian Paisley Jnr took up his junior ministerial appointment as well.
Mark
The hullabaloo surrounding Junior’s remarks is an early illustration that an Executive comprising ideological opposites is destined to run its business on a ‘battle a day’ basis. This particular imbroglio is just the start of what is likely to be a series of rows and rumpuses, leading to chaotic Government that simply will not survive, even in the medium-term. In any typical democracy Junior’s indiscretion (homophobia?) would have resulted in his walking the plank. Much like mandatory coalition the current luv-in at the OF&DFM is a contrivance, soon be exposed in all its emptiness. How long before the Voters are gagging for Plan B?
Susie
Carryduff