Sinn Fein? They have gone away, you know.

[Minder]

C'mon Maguire. You can't seriously post an article from the Newsletter as if it is some sort of credible source.  Leaving aside the one man band that is the Greens, the SDLP are all over the shop on this. They along with the UUP and DUP signed up for a far worse deal, when the shinners held out.

Your argument assumes that they are in power, which they aren't. They along with the DUP are part of a devolved administration, with some powers, but without control of fiscal policy, it's not a government.

What is different or better about the deal now ? "Flexibilities" specific to here were agreed two years ago. They haven't received an extra penny for welfare reform.

[Maguire01]

C'mon Maguire. You can't seriously post an article from the Newsletter as if it is some sort of credible source.  Leaving aside the one man band that is the Greens, the SDLP are all over the shop on this. They along with the UUP and DUP signed up for a far worse deal, when the shinners held out.

Your argument assumes that they are in power, which they aren't. They along with the DUP are part of a devolved administration, with some powers, but without control of fiscal policy, it's not a government.

It's analysis from the Newsletter, not a source of facts. But if you can point out any inaccuracies, please do.

And the Shinners didn't get a better deal. They're funding mitigation by diverting other public spending. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul.

[babarino]

C'mon Maguire. You can't seriously post an article from the Newsletter as if it is some sort of credible source.  Leaving aside the one man band that is the Greens, the SDLP are all over the shop on this. They along with the UUP and DUP signed up for a far worse deal, when the shinners held out.

Your argument assumes that they are in power, which they aren't. They along with the DUP are part of a devolved administration, with some powers, but without control of fiscal policy, it's not a government.

It's analysis from the Newsletter, not a source of facts. But if you can point out any inaccuracies, please do.

And the Shinners didn't get a better deal. They're funding mitigation by diverting other public spending. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Quoting Newsletter opinions to support an argument on SF is like using the words Gregory Campbell or Nelson McCausland in a debate on Acht na Gaeilge. They start from a position of hostility and all points are raised solely for the purpose of reinforcement. I've neither the time nor the inclination to dissect their jaundiced arguments.

[Applesisapples]

The Shinners have been pragmatic and realistic here, they held on for greater flexibility to deal with the worst effects of welfare reform and got as much as they could. No British government of what ever hue was going to roll back on welfare reform as it is a fiscal necessity. But the wider issue in working class areas of the north on both sides of the divide is the ongoing benefits culture. It is time that all parties including the Shinners start pushing for better paying jobs in these areas. It is also about time benefits targeted real need. That said when communities as has happen twice in West Belfast in recent months reject investment you wonder if they actually want to progress.

[Minder]

The Shinners have been pragmatic and realistic here, they held on for greater flexibility to deal with the worst effects of welfare reform and got as much as they could. No British government of what ever hue was going to roll back on welfare reform as it is a fiscal necessity. But the wider issue in working class areas of the north on both sides of the divide is the ongoing benefits culture. It is time that all parties including the Shinners start pushing for better paying jobs in these areas. It is also about time benefits targeted real need. That said when communities as has happen twice in West Belfast in recent months reject investment you wonder if they actually want to progress.

What flexibilities did they achieve ?

[Maguire01]

C'mon Maguire. You can't seriously post an article from the Newsletter as if it is some sort of credible source.  Leaving aside the one man band that is the Greens, the SDLP are all over the shop on this. They along with the UUP and DUP signed up for a far worse deal, when the shinners held out.

Your argument assumes that they are in power, which they aren't. They along with the DUP are part of a devolved administration, with some powers, but without control of fiscal policy, it's not a government.

It's analysis from the Newsletter, not a source of facts. But if you can point out any inaccuracies, please do.

And the Shinners didn't get a better deal. They're funding mitigation by diverting other public spending. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Quoting Newsletter opinions to support an argument on SF is like using the words Gregory Campbell or Nelson McCausland in a debate on Acht na Gaeilge. They start from a position of hostility and all points are raised solely for the purpose of reinforcement. I've neither the time nor the inclination to dissect their jaundiced arguments.

That's just a cop-out, and playing the man (in this case, the paper) to avoid playing the ball (the content). I wouldn't call the Newsletter a quality paper, and it's not one I'd buy, but there are a few journalists/ columnists whose pieces are generally worth reading online. And if it's that biased, it surely wouldn't be too difficult to tear the article apart.

[Maguire01]

The Shinners have been pragmatic and realistic here, they held on for greater flexibility to deal with the worst effects of welfare reform and got as much as they could.

Can you enlighten me on just what they got?

Unless i'm missing something, they got no extra money from the British Government, aside from a loan which is repayable with interest. All that has happened, is that money has been diverted from health, education and other public services to mitigate the impact of the welfare reform bill they passed.

There's also the question of whether we should be diverting money from other important public services so that, for example, some people aren't subject to a benefits cap of £26k/year. That's the equivalent of £35k/year gross salary and well above the NI average salary of £24k/year.

There's no arguing that we need a welfare system so that everyone maintains a decent standard of living, but the current approach just seems to dismiss the idea that there should be any reform whatsoever. That's not to place the blame solely at SF however, just that they're the ones claiming that maintaining the status quo is a victory (regardless of the cost).

[Applesisapples]

Caught a bit of Declan Kearney on Nolan, how embarrassing, tried his best not to answer questions on SF support or otherwise for upcoming strikes. No one though had the balls to point to the Elephant in the room...SF and the DUP can only work with the cash the Brits dole out to them albeit they have some leeway to avoid taking money from the most vulnerable.. No political party here has the balls to reform the public sector especially in  Education and health where root and branch change is required.

[Kidder81]

Caught a bit of Declan Kearney on Nolan, how embarrassing, tried his best not to answer questions on SF support or otherwise for upcoming strikes. No one though had the balls to point to the Elephant in the room...SF and the DUP can only work with the cash the Brits dole out to them and therefore they are administering Tory cuts. No political party here has the balls to reform the public sector especially in  Education and health where root and branch change is required.

Or th balls to reform Welfare

[theticklemister]

Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin has announced he will take up the position of President of the NI Assembly Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
The Assembly Speaker says support for the Commonwealth is not part of his personal politics.
However, he said he wanted his approach during his time as Speaker to be about "respect".
He did not comment on whether Ireland should become part of the Commonwealth.
"In upholding the independence and impartiality of the Speaker, my approach during my time in office is going to be one of respect," he added.
"Involvement in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has naturally not been part of my political life in the past.
"However, I will represent all sides of the House as any Speaker should and I intend to respect and acknowledge the culture and traditions of all sides of the assembly chamber.
"Taking up this position is a first step in demonstrating that approach.  I look forward to hosting next week's event to mark Commonwealth Day and its theme of encouraging youth participation in our democratic system."

[armaghniac]

Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin has announced he will take up the position of President of the NI Assembly Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary

He should get an MBE for that.

[give her dixie]

Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin has announced he will take up the position of President of the NI Assembly Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary

He should get an MBE for that.

He got a book for privately meeting the Deputy Israeli Ambassador days before they unleashed the brutal attack on Gaza last year

http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/office-of-the-speaker/gifts-received-by-the-speaker/gifts-received-by-the-speaker---2014/

[Farrandeelin]

SF running one candidate in Mayo for the election, whenever it is.

[Kidder81]

So complete u-turn by SF on welfare reform. Did something happen at the Ard Fheis ?

[Maguire01]

So complete u-turn by SF on welfare reform. Did something happen at the Ard Fheis ?

It's bizarre. What has changed? Did the DUP pull the wool over their eyes for the Stormont House Agreement? Has it taken them this long for them to figure it out?

A cynic might say that they were trying to divert northern media attention from their new position on abortion. This does seem a bit excessive however.