DUP: Champions of a shared future

[AQMP]

DUP lodged a petition of concern for Monday, so Nelson untouchable.

Makes North Korea look like a beacon of liberal democracy!

[Applesisapples]

Our First Minister's prouncements on Parading totally exposes his hypocracy as with the OO he blames the Parades Commission. Pathetic.

[muppet]

Our First Minister's prouncements on Parading totally exposes his hypocracy as with the OO he blames the Parades Commission. Pathetic.

Leaders cannot condemn State organisations like that, even if they disagree with their decisions. Leaders should be able to lead when necessary, not always run with the herd.

[EC Unique]

Our First Minister's prouncements on Parading totally exposes his hypocracy as with the OO he blames the Parades Commission. Pathetic.

Leaders cannot condemn State organisations like that, even if they disagree with their decisions. Leaders should be able to lead when necessary, not always run with the herd.

In a normal society that would apply but not in the maddness of N.Ireland.

[red hander]

Our First Minister's prouncements on Parading totally exposes his hypocracy as with the OO he blames the Parades Commission. Pathetic.

Well, his best mate Marty had the chance to sink him and win a decisive victory for the indigiineous people of this island, who he says he represents, when Peter the Punt"s wife became totally exposed for f**king a 19-year-old serious chancer up to his neck in loyalist shenanigans and drug dealing, but he chose for some reason to let Peter off the hook... maybe Marty went fishing that day

[Maguire01]

I didn't see Spotlight last night but I'd imagine it didn't say that Redsky was essentially a UVF run outfit full of ex-prisoners with no background in construction/maintenance.

Since he got into his position his main aims have been to protect the North Belfast Westminster seat for Nigel Dodds and to protect the interests of his own kind rather than the wider community.

He pours money into things like boiler replacement schemes rather than building new homes because if he builds new homes in places like north Belfast where the need is high in the green side that it could hurt his party in elections.

Every time he comes up here he goes straight to the Fountain and the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall to throw money at them.

The new DSD strategy is due out shortly and with this document, McCausland intends making changes to the Housing Selection Scheme. The way it has worked for 40 years is that people get housed according to need. The Housing Executive and the Housing Associations work off a common selection scheme, whereby you submit an application and then get assessed and 'pointed'. The more points you have, the higher up the list you are and the better chance you have of being offered suitable accommodation. The system was introduced in response to the discriminatory practices that used to go on in the past and which were famously highlighted in the Caledon protest in the late 60s. Nelson wants to shift away from this 'housing by need' system and bring in other factors, so that your place on the list doesn't simply depend on how many points you get. Why? Very simple. Most of the housing need is in nationalist areas. If he can bring in changes to the selection scheme, he can maybe alter this fact and perhaps head off the greening of areas like north Belfast. What I find most sickening is that this arch bigot is being facilitated in his efforts to reintroduce gerrymandering in a different guise by the cooperation of Sinn Fein. I don't know what they got in return for their sell out over Girdwood, but it wasn't worth it whatever it was.

DSD studies critical ruling on St Matthew's Housing Association

A High Court judgement that criticised the allocation of public housing by an east Belfast housing association is to be studied by Stormont officials.

A Belfast High Court judge found the allocation of some houses by St Matthew's Housing Association in Short Strand was "not fair or equitable".

The judge also accused a former Sinn Féin councillor of failing to declare a conflict of interest in the allocation.

The former councillor, Joe O'Donnell, is a board member at the association.

The case centred on a new housing development on the site of the old Mountpottinger police station in the Short Strand.

The judge found the allocation of some of the houses had not been done properly. Transfer applicants had been prioritised rather than those on the usual waiting list.

'Nepotism'

Mr Justice Horner said: "I conclude that the allocation of the two-bedroomed units was unlawful. It was not fair and equitable."

One of the people allocated a house was a niece of Mr O'Donnell.

The judge said: "It is contended... J O'Donnell was not in a conflict of interest, actual or apparent, because one of the units was allocated to his niece. I do not agree. It must be remembered that 'nepotism' is derived from the Latin word for nephew."

Public housing allocation in Northern Ireland is overseen by Stormont's Department for Social Development (DSD).

The court ruling was made on Thursday, and on Friday, a spokesperson said DSD staff were studying the judgement.

No-one from St Matthew's Housing Association was available for interview, but in a statement the organisation said it was committed to the fair allocation of housing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-23725517

[give her dixie]

They always say that history repeats itself, and that statement is so very true in this case.

Does anyone remember how 19-year-old single girl, Emily Beattie, employed by a solicitor who was the prospective unionist candidate for West Belfast, was given the house in preference to 269 other applicants on the waiting list in Dungannon Rural District Council, including some in the Caledon area, living in dwellings designated unfit for human habitation?

For Sinn Fein to allow this to happen 40 odd years later is disgusting. They should hang their heads in shame and the said councillor should resign immediately.

http://www.nicivilrights.org/category/caledon/

[armaghniac]

 Things do repeat themselves, quite apart from nepotism politicians like to get involved, to 'deliver'. Was the family involved in Caledon not related to Michelle Gildernew?

[Maguire01]

They always say that history repeats itself, and that statement is so very true in this case.

Does anyone remember how 19-year-old single girl, Emily Beattie, employed by a solicitor who was the prospective unionist candidate for West Belfast, was given the house in preference to 269 other applicants on the waiting list in Dungannon Rural District Council, including some in the Caledon area, living in dwellings designated unfit for human habitation?

For Sinn Fein to allow this to happen 40 odd years later is disgusting. They should hang their heads in shame and the said councillor should resign immediately.

http://www.nicivilrights.org/category/caledon/

He's a former councillor.

[give her dixie]

They always say that history repeats itself, and that statement is so very true in this case.

Does anyone remember how 19-year-old single girl, Emily Beattie, employed by a solicitor who was the prospective unionist candidate for West Belfast, was given the house in preference to 269 other applicants on the waiting list in Dungannon Rural District Council, including some in the Caledon area, living in dwellings designated unfit for human habitation?

For Sinn Fein to allow this to happen 40 odd years later is disgusting. They should hang their heads in shame and the said councillor should resign immediately.

http://www.nicivilrights.org/category/caledon/

He's a former councillor.

Resign from the party I meant. Somehow, I don't see that happening.....

[give her dixie]

Things do repeat themselves, quite apart from nepotism politicians like to get involved, to 'deliver'. Was the family involved in Caledon not related to Michelle Gildernew?

Yeah, her parents were involved. Caledon was a defining moment for the Civil Rights Movememnt, and brought
a lot of attention to the discrimination going on at the time.

For this Councillor to discriminate in favour of his nieces over those more deserving is an insult to those who stood
up against it in Caledon all those years ago.

[orangeman]

It's just turning into a carve up.

Every man for himself.

[glens abu]

Things do repeat themselves, quite apart from nepotism politicians like to get involved, to 'deliver'. Was the family involved in Caledon not related to Michelle Gildernew?

Yeah, her parents were involved. Caledon was a defining moment for the Civil Rights Movememnt, and brought
a lot of attention to the discrimination going on at the time.

For this Councillor to discriminate in favour of his nieces over those more deserving is an insult to those who stood
up against it in Caledon all those years ago.

You have already been ,told once that he is not a councillor and was not a councillor at the time this happened,so get over yourself Dixie.Yes it is wrong what he did but nothing at all to do with Sinn Fein.

[Wildweasel74]

same as always, nobody will put N.Ireland first, they get into a position to fill their own coffers and dont give a shit about anybody else. spout sectarian crap to pull idiots vote, the bigots vote, as long as they are safe or in a job they dont care. the days of having  a politician who can think for himself are over, any semi decent unionist gets bowled out of the way as not to affect the money band wagon. For yrs they couldnt wait to get trimble out and his uup buddies, but once out they just took his place, The chase for the DUP was to get in power and would have no problem bringing down any unionist or nationalist to do it. Now in a position to do something useful they cannot as they are too afraid to lose power, Paisley and Robinson have been like 2 dummies ghost walking through govt. they wouldnt want McGunniess as first minster, and this first minster can only come form the biggest party does not make sense. Better parties got together and pick a minster that can relate to both side of the divide in the north