Dysfunctional – Page 2 – Slugger O'Toole

“they demonstrate clearly their disdain for the democratic process”

Pete Baker on July 19, 2012, 5:06 pm | Readers 61

The semi-detached polit-bureau are at it again. Whatever ‘it’ is… [Headline-grabbing? – Ed] Possibly… There’s certainly a lack of detail. In the absence of a sitting Northern Ireland Assembly to question them, and with no NI Executive meeting for them to jointly chair until September, the NI First and deputy First Ministers issued a statement last night. [It’s a Queens’ Speech! – Ed] Indeed. From the OFMDFM statement Commenting, Ministers said: “We are pleased to be able to give some detail on …

Martin McGuinness: “This decision is a very decisive decision…”

Pete Baker on January 11, 2012, 3:16 pm | Readers 72

…and not at all another fudge to keep the Department of Justice upright while they re-apply the same sticking plaster as last time. And as TUV leader Jim Allister said, “The Committee, of course, will lend itself to that farce.” According to the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness Mr McGuinness said the office of the first and deputy first minister was committed to tackling “the size of the assembly and the number of departments”. “The whole issue of d’Hondt will …

“The Committee views this matter with the utmost seriousness…”

Pete Baker on December 7, 2011, 2:57 pm | Readers 82

The BBC reports the Northern Ireland Assembly Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) press release on their report in response to NI Audit Office report into the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme – the actual PAC report is here. In general there’s little new information on the NI Department of Agriculture’s mishandling of the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme – the largest capital grant scheme ever run by the Department of Agriculture, through which some 4000 farmers received grants worth £121million – an earlier draft PAC report was leaked to the …

“The Committee, of course, will lend itself to that farce…”

Pete Baker on December 1, 2011, 8:43 pm | Readers 3

Having been tasked by the Northern Ireland Assembly to review the initial ministerial provision for the Department of Justice and to “make recommendations relating to the provision that should exist from 1 May 2012”, the Assembly and Executive Review Committee failed to complete their task. From the AER Committee’s report 8. Following Committee discussion, a proposal was made, on the basis that there was no broad consensus on any of the options, that the Committee draft a Report that outlines …

“The real horse trading [over Justice Ministry] is likely to happen between party leaders…”

Pete Baker on November 8, 2011, 9:03 pm | Readers 10

And only two parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin have the necessary votes to trade… ANYhoo, as I mentioned during the Sinn Féin ard fheis when the deputy chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Justice Committee, and noted plagiarist, Raymond McCartney complained that “David Ford’s department [of Justice] is like Jurassic Park.” …if Sinn Féin aren’t happy with David Ford as Northern Ireland Justice Minister then they, and the DUP, can always find someone else to agree on… They, both parties, have to agree on someone …

In “the spirit of co-operation…”

Pete Baker on October 5, 2011, 4:35 pm | Readers 4

As the dust settled on the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in May, the BBC reported Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said that he wanted to see “more realism” from the UUP and SDLP. “I would like to see those parties as well as the Alliance Party working in the spirit of co-operation,” he said. “If Peter Robinson and I can work together, then surely all of those parties can work with us.” If “those parties as well as the Alliance Party” …

“When you’re a political party you have to act like a political party…”

Pete Baker on September 19, 2011, 4:46 pm | Readers 2

Fianna Fáil may have their own problems at the moment but, before Sinn Féin showed its hand on the presential election, Fianna Fáil party leader Micheál Martin was telling some home truths about the performance of the Northern Ireland Executive. The former Minister for Foreign Affairs said he had first hand experience of how poorly Sinn Fein had performed in the Northern Ireland Executive. He said: “Just look at Sinn Fein’s performance in government in Northern Ireland, it’s been pretty …

“the scheme was poorly planned, badly managed and did not provide good value for money”

Pete Baker on September 16, 2011, 2:50 pm | Readers 33

We’ve already seen the Northern Ireland Audit Office report criticising the NI Department of Agriculture’s handling of the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme – the largest capital grant scheme ever run by the Department of Agriculture, through which some 4000 farmers received grants worth £121million. Now the BBC have reported that a draft report from the NI Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, due to be published in 3 weeks time, will be equally damning. From the BBC report It is expected to conclude that …

Bread, and circuses…

Pete Baker on July 14, 2011, 5:35 pm | Readers 14

After a third night of attacks on police in nationalist areas across Northern Ireland, the NI First and deputy First Ministers have emerged to warn about some people’s “complacency about the peace process”. From the BBC report Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness met at Stormont Castle on Thursday to discuss recent rioting. Mr Robinson said “as a society we have begun to get a bit careless about how hard won the peace was”. Mr McGuinness said the riots “should shake …

“They held an election and the government won…”

Pete Baker on May 7, 2011, 5:10 pm | Readers 23

Something of a one-two in the Irish News opinion pages today. Firstly, from the editorial. For a government, it is difficult to claim a credible mandate when around half the voting population refuses to offer its backing to any of the candidates on offer. This disconnect is not a new phenomenon, of course, but representatives who dismiss this as simply a symptom of normal politics need to take a reality check. What they should be asking is why voters are staying …

“Honesty and realism have been fleeting visitors to the campaign trail.”

Pete Baker on May 5, 2011, 2:28 pm | Readers 1

A Belfast Telegraph editorial today argues The campaign itself has been moribund with little vision and plenty of uncosted commitments which will have to be abandoned over the next few years. Honesty and realism have been fleeting visitors to the campaign trail. The good ship Duopoly appears to be sailing serenely with the DUP and Sinn Fein in what appears to be a stately procession back to power. ………….. We need strong, alternative parties to counter the Sinn Fein/DUP grip …

“It will be 2012 at the earliest before we can say whether Northern Ireland’s unemployment rate and levels have peaked.”

Pete Baker on April 13, 2011, 3:16 pm | Readers 3

As the BBC reports The number of people claiming unemployment benefit last month reached 59,000 – a rise of 100 on the previous month. That means unemployment has reached its highest rate in 13 years. And it’s worth noting from the Northern Ireland Labour Market Report April 2011 [pdf file], that that’s an increase of 3,300 over the year. Employment The number of persons in employment in the period December 2010 – February 2011 was estimated at 779,000. This estimate was up …

“On the face of it, that is slightly disappointing…”

Pete Baker on April 2, 2011, 1:50 pm | Readers 6

The Belfast Telegraph’s Insider column brings us OFMDFM officials Dale Heaney and James McEldowney’s verdict on the Northern Ireland Executive’s delivery, or not, on the Programme for Government 2008-2011. They were appearing in front of the relevant Assembly committee. From the Belfast Telegraph article Mr Heaney argued that, in spite the impact of the economic downturn, ministers “have made, and continue to make, a significant difference to people’s lives”. In introductory remarks to the hearing, he went on: “Delivery reports …

NI Executive: “Never mind the quality, feel the width…”

Pete Baker on March 19, 2011, 4:40 pm | Readers 5

An interesting analogy from BBC NI’s Jim Fitzpatrick in an accurate depiction of the dysfunctional nature of our ‘indigenous’ arrangements. From Jim Fitzpatrick’s article It would be unfair to criticise the parties for a lack of delivery, whenever all they were expected to deliver was “themselves” to the finishing line. But as they head into an election seeking a mandate for a new term in office, it will be interesting to see what expectations are for the new term. And …

“the guiding principle for our final budget.”

Pete Baker on March 5, 2011, 11:27 pm | Readers 0

Some points to note about the final budget as presented to the Assembly. From the Northern Ireland Finance Minister’s statement. Also, the Executive has agreed to introduce a measure of over-commitment on both the current and capital side. The overcommitment of £30 million per annum on both current and capital is really a ’self-help’ facility, made possible by better financial management across the public sector and the many revenue generating opportunities identified by departments. I believe that, in this context, …

Trench warfare, kamikaze style…

Pete Baker on February 22, 2011, 7:46 pm | Readers 4

The Northern Ireland Executive’s trench warfare continued today with NI deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, issuing a statement claiming that the UUP and the SDLP “were lobbying for public money for their parties in talks with the British government in exchange for adopting an oppositional role in the Assembly.” Well, it’s a variation on his last claim, but the UUP are arguing of the need for a properly funded opposition by 2015. But the SDLP have denied Martin McGuinness’ claim, and they’ve issued a robust statement of …

“Trench warfare has erupted…”

Pete Baker on February 22, 2011, 2:41 pm | Readers 4

Via Newshound. In the Sunday Times Liam Clarke welcomes the “trench warfare” the parties are engaging in over the Northern Ireland Executive’s draft spending plans. Apparently, it’s better than the sectarian squabbling that went before… ANYhoo… From the transcribed Sunday Times article The eruption of public anger and megaphone diplomacy reflects the poisonous atmosphere around the executive table itself. McGimpsey needled the furious McGuinness by saying, “calm down Martin, don’t get so excited”. McGuinness and Robinson are both accustomed to …

“I have heard it from very good authority…”

Pete Baker on February 19, 2011, 1:03 pm | Readers 22

When is calling for a properly-funded opposition not a call for a properly-funded opposition? When it’s secret negotiations over compensation for lost ministerial funds… At least, that’s the line the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, has been busily spinning to anyone who will listen. And it comes “from very good authority”… “within the NIO”. [Ah, “the securocrats” – Ed] They’re on ‘our’ side this time! [They always were… – Ed] Indeed. Pete Baker

“Next time they might try openness and joined-up thinking”

Pete Baker on January 15, 2011, 4:37 pm | Readers 3

I was somewhat blunter in my initial assessment of the Northern Ireland Executive’s spending plans, but I get the impression Patrick Murphy, in The Irish News, agrees. Their budgetary plans tell us three things – departments do not talk to each other, few of them know what a customer is and most ministers do not expect to retain their posts after the election. The information you wanted to know – details of how the cuts will affect you – will …

Bullshit, and joined-up government…

Pete Baker on January 14, 2011, 3:04 pm | Readers 6

Some four weeks after the departmental allocations were agreed and all Northern Ireland Executive departments have, to a greater or lesser extent, finally published their spending plans. Don’t worry, though. There’ll be an extra week of that public consultation… Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Finance Minister, the DUP’s Sammy Wilson, is complaining that the UK Treasury has “swiped” £300million of NI departments’ yearly underspend – rather than allowing it to be drawn down in the subsequent year. The NIO has issued a statement …