"Political Football"
After twice failing to bring the Victims Commission Bill forward for debate, the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister broke their duck today having agreed amendments designed to resolve the deadlock.
The proposals would give the First and Deputy First Ministers the option to appoint a Chief Commissioner, without requiring them to do so. The commission could decide some matters by a majority vote, but others, involving finance and its plan of work, would require unanimity. No one with a criminal conviction would be allowed to work for the Commission, unless the First and Deputy First Ministers give their prior approval.
Jim Shannon, Naomi Long, Basil McCrea (and then I lost count) insisted that noone should play "political football" with the victims. Of course this didn't stop anyone continuing to wrangle about the amendments. Despite that, the DUP and Sinn Fein have the votes to push their proposals through.
Going back to Jim, Naomi and Basil ( and I suppose Jennifer McCann too although she talked about "political point scoring"), it made me wonder which issue is it alright to play "political football" with? I suppose the Maze stadium might qualify, as that might be the only kind of football which ever gets played there. But I am open to any other suggestions.
I'm 
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