Hmmm - SF want all the dosh saved on security to be used for other things in the province .... will SF ensure that all the IRA dosh is spent on the local community instead of sitting in a bank account waiting in case they need to buy more arms ? ;)
Otherwise I think the Govt should establish a savings fund which is there to instantly ramp up security if the IRA renege ....

this is an excellent way for the DUP to protect the union. the british are really going to want to strengthen a union with a territory which not only saps at least £2bn from the british exchequer every year but demends occasional unearned payments for simply getting on with eachother.

someone should let the british taxpayers know about this.

We need to get the 108 unemployed Assembly members into a studio. They should at least sing for their supper.

All together now

It's Christmas time
And we need to be repaid
At Christmas time
For all the efforts that we’ve made
And in our world of madness
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the north
At Christmas time

There’s not a prayer
We’ll share power with themuns
You might think we’re hard
But we’re having fun
Because we can talk forever
About the same old thing
And the only thing that counts
Is what the next election brings
Well tonight thank God we’re willing to be bought

Feed the north
Let us know it's Christmas time
Feed the north
Give us cash for doing sweet feck all?

And there won't be an executive
This Christmas time
Unless greatest gift we get this year is huge
Our wish list ever grows
But if this is the last show
We hope you have a fat cheque for us all

The last decent piece Tom Wolfe wrote before he sold out was Mau Mauing The Flack-Catchers. It described how some clever urban black activists were really fronts for gulling Uncle Sugar by spinning tiger tales of how close New York, Newark, Detroit (take your pick) were to blowing up into a Burn Baby, Burn frenzy in the 60's.

Maybe Gerry and Da Rev read it while they were in the joint.

Malachi O'Doherty had an excellent satire on this at the start of today's Talkback, if anyone wants to check it out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3614006.stm

Somehow I managed to miss that today, Gonzo.. Excellent is right though.. What about the pigeons!?!

(1 min 36 seconds into the broadcast, for anyone in a hurry)

if this is seen to be a sticking point it will play badly 'over the water', of course the Dupes could always sweeten the pill, with the Robinson's sharing a London flat and saving the hard pressed taxpayers 20K