The simple question for all members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive is: Do I support the achievement of political ends by purely peaceful means or by terrorism and acts of violence? Continue reading Time for the politicians to decide: in or out of the Executive?
This afternoon we have seen the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill pass its third reading in the House of Commons. Many people start claiming that Equal Marriage is home and dry. This is quite far from the case. The Bill … Continue reading We’re being left behind in Northern Ireland: why I am a proud Liberal Democrat
Once again, Northern Ireland lags behind progress in the rest of the United Kingdom. The health minister at Stormont, Edwin Poots MLA of the DUP has said that he will not be rushed on lifting the ban on gay men giving blood. Last October, he was quizzed by the health committee in the Northern Ireland Assembly and told them, I am not going to be rushed, pushed or harassed on an issue that is about public safety The Minister continued to state his position: We are not west Brits here: we are Northern Ireland, and we are a devolved Administration. … Continue reading Dispicable blood ban must be lifted in Northern Ireland
A programme for the reform of the whole system is what is wanted. State built and State equipped school buildings in every district; management by a State department of Education… When a thorough system of secular education is advocated it is by many thought that religion is thereby endangered. This is not so. Religious instruction in schools is apt to be a mere routine which does not touch the finer feelings. Religious instruction in the schools has done much to destroy religious teaching in the home. The indifferent parent has satisfied his conscience by delegating some of his most important duties to the schoolmaster. In a country which has no State Church there is no State religion to be taught in the State Schools and it is the duty of the various religious denominations to see that their children get proper religious instruction without unnecessarily sacrificing their secular education and thereby providing third-rate education and routine religious instruction… Continue reading “We’re in a time warp: 1910, 2010, 2110?”
A sorry scene in a legislature Yesterday, we witnessed a sorry scene. A government minister getting up, answering questions, but answering them in a way so as to mislead the House. The government minister in question did so during First Minister’s Questions when answering a question from Dr Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party on the Cohesion, sharing and integration programme consultation, Democrati Unionist Junior Minister Robin Newton MBE MLA stated that: The consultation attracted 290 written responses Hansard, 29 Nov. 2010 and then just minutes later we heard the following exchange: Danny Kinahan: I thank the junior Minister for … Continue reading Minister misleads the House: ministers must wise up
The Traditional Unionist Voice, has published its response to the draft Programme on Cohesion, Sharing and Integration, and I have taken this opportunity to make some comment upon it. TUV welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation. We will go through the document and highlight areas of particular interest or concern to our party and supporters. TUV finds it ironic in the extreme that this document should have a forward written jointly by the co-First Ministers. Had it not been for the brutal campaign of violence in which the deputy First Minister played a key role we would not … Continue reading A response to CSI that is rooted in the language of conflict and aggression
Reading the news about the First Minister’s comments about integrated education in Northern Ireland has got me thinking. It really isn’t that long ago since I spoke in a debate, nay, I seconded the motion, at Alliance Party Conference in the Dunadry Hotel, in 2009. The motion was proposed by Alliance Youth, – I was only just a member back then (before being kicked out for being too old). The proposal was that the State should withdraw funding from schools that don’t withdraw religious control on them. In other words, to create a State education sector that was truly integrated, … Continue reading either a farce or we’ve moved very far indeed
Good to see that the all-Ireland political entity known as Sinn Féin is using joined up campaigning. On one side of the border that they now recognise (cf Belfast Agreement) people are being encouraged to join with Gerry Adams and protest the cuts – see poster… Whilst in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin is saying that they want to make savings cuts worth £1billion and make £800 million in revenue. According to Eamonn Mallie, the deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness said (on tackling the economy) Let us have a bit of blue sky thinking – thinking outside the box. Mr Mallie … Continue reading stop the cuts, make some cuts… make up your mind Sinn Féin
By now we should be well down the road for reorganisation of the local district councils in Northern Ireland from the 26 current district councils to the 11 council model. Sadly for some, though better for actual local democracy and relation of councillor to constituent, this has not happened. According to the BBC, Northern Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Edwin Poots, of the DUP, said that he remained committed to reforming local government Committed to reforming local government he may be, but not committed to bringing forward the legislation necessary to enable this to be done. For Mr Poots has … Continue reading councils delay has gone to Poots
Finance Minister absent from chamber once again Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister Nigel Dodds MP MLA is once again absent from the Assembly. The Budget (No. 2) Bill is being debated, but being steered through by Arlene Foster MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Investment. One wonders what Mr Dodds is up to? Is he shirking his duties? Or perhaps it is an indication of the impending DUP reshuffle. Is Arlene going to be the new Finance Minister? Continue reading Arlene for Finance Ministry?
Gyronny Herald 