Nelson McCausland

[orangeman]

History keeps on repeating itself. Cover ups, lies, cheating, double standards, deceit, dishonesty and milking the system.

Happened back in the day. Still happening now.

[Dougal Maguire]

It was funny mind you watching Jim Allister. If you listen closely you will notice he has a speech impediment which makes him on occasion pronounce the letter 'R' as 'L'.  So you can here him speak about the Grass and Grazing Federation. It was also great at his party when he said that he would decide later whether to stand in the Europear Erections

[seafoid]

It seems we lost the wrong Nelson.

[Maguire01]

If it wasn't so comical it would drive ye to drink. Yes, Jim Allister was a little more articulate  than the rest but I thought following the land sale accusations he would have ripped Nelson a new one in an attempt to get one back on the DUP. Or do they just take it easy on one another incase it's their turn for the hot seat next!?

I don't think you can use that excuse with Jim - he's not likely to be holding a ministerial position anytime soon!

[playwiththewind1st]

Allister is a hateful wee ballix but, the fact is, he's the only thing resembling an opposition, up on the hill. He may have an axe to grind, but he's the only one doing anything to challenge the oh so cosy 5 party everybody has to be in cabinet arrangement.

[playwiththewind1st]

Just noticed buried in the [lack of] news - the Finance Minister up on the hill has taken the Agriculture Minister up on the hill down to the High Court in Belfast, to stop her re-allocating some of her department's funds.

FFS you couldn't make it up, complete bunch of dickheads. What exactly do they do / talk about at Executive meetings?

[Tony Baloney]

Just noticed buried in the [lack of] news - the Finance Minister up on the hill has taken the Agriculture Minister up on the hill down to the High Court in Belfast, to stop her re-allocating some of her department's funds.

FFS you couldn't make it up, complete bunch of d**kheads. What exactly do they do / talk about at Executive meetings?

Was it not to make her go through the Executive for spending approval rather than giving her carte blanche to spend 100 million as she saw fit. Sounds like a wise move going by some of the stuff you read re. departmental management at Stormont but it will end up in the usual 50 for them and 50 for us craic instead of spent according to need or ROI.

[updown9194]

Allister is a hateful wee ballix but, the fact is, he's the only thing resembling an opposition, up on the hill. He may have an axe to grind, but he's the only one doing anything to challenge the oh so cosy 5 party everybody has to be in cabinet arrangement.

The reason that this happens is because majority rule would absolutely wipe out Sinn Féin and the SDLP would be left in the same position as Paddy Devlin in the 1920's. It's ridiculous to say that the 'oh so cosy' arrangement isn't needed.

[Eamonnca1]

The reason that this happens is because majority rule would absolutely wipe out Sinn Féin and the SDLP would be left in the same position as Paddy Devlin in the 1920's. It's ridiculous to say that the 'oh so cosy' arrangement isn't needed.

Yup. The Good Friday Agreement is a recognition that the state is gerrymandered to keep a sectarian supremacist faction in charge, so any democratic institutions in that state have to be over-engineered with checks and balances that you wouldn't need in a normal society. It's a convoluted solution to a convoluted problem, and whether we like it or not it will have to do.

[Lecale2]

Paddy Devlin in the 1920's

Paddy Devlin was a child in the 1920s. Perhaps you mean Wee Joe Devlin?

[updown9194]

Paddy Devlin in the 1920's

Paddy Devlin was a child in the 1920s. Perhaps you mean Wee Joe Devlin?

Ah, thought there was something wrong there. 

[playwiththewind1st]

Just noticed buried in the [lack of] news - the Finance Minister up on the hill has taken the Agriculture Minister up on the hill down to the High Court in Belfast, to stop her re-allocating some of her department's funds.

FFS you couldn't make it up, complete bunch of d**kheads. What exactly do they do / talk about at Executive meetings?

Was it not to make her go through the Executive for spending approval rather than giving her carte blanche to spend 100 million as she saw fit. Sounds like a wise move going by some of the stuff you read re. departmental management at Stormont but it will end up in the usual 50 for them and 50 for us craic instead of spent according to need or ROI.

Then why not tell her to discuss it @ the next Executive meeting, instead of going to the High Court? Think I'll throw in an FOI request, to find out how much this wee spat cost the hard pressed taxpayer!

[Tony Baloney]

Just noticed buried in the [lack of] news - the Finance Minister up on the hill has taken the Agriculture Minister up on the hill down to the High Court in Belfast, to stop her re-allocating some of her department's funds.

FFS you couldn't make it up, complete bunch of d**kheads. What exactly do they do / talk about at Executive meetings?

Was it not to make her go through the Executive for spending approval rather than giving her carte blanche to spend 100 million as she saw fit. Sounds like a wise move going by some of the stuff you read re. departmental management at Stormont but it will end up in the usual 50 for them and 50 for us craic instead of spent according to need or ROI.

Then why not tell her to discuss it @ the next Executive meeting, instead of going to the High Court? Think I'll throw in an FOI request, to find out how much this wee spat cost the hard pressed taxpayer!

You would have to assume it was something that wasn't resolved via normal channels the way actual functioning adults would deal with it. Politicians of all stripes in Stormont dont give a shit for the taxpayer when they have a petty gripe. If they were forking out for it out of their own pocket there would be less shite.

[Rossfan]

Politicians of all stripes in Stormont dont give a shit for the taxpayer when they have a petty gripe. If they were forking out for it out of their own pocket there would be less shite.

Time for a local tax in the 6 Cos to pay for Stormont and all its shenanigans. That might tighten the oul purse strings alright.

[Myles Na G.]

So Nelson deliberately misled the Stormont committee tasked with scrutinising the actions of the DSD minister.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28138929

In the Dail or Westminster this would be a sackable / resigning issue without any doubt at all. Politicians in our own wee political cesspit, however, are accountable to noone but their own party colleagues, who generally close ranks and protect their own against themmuns.