Northern Ireland Assembly Collapses

[magickingdom]

can someone please explain to me the big deal with devolving police and justice powers to the assembly? am i missing something? who cares or is it a big deal for nationalists?

Do you remember the RUC batering people up and down the gervaghy rd? This is allowed by unaccountable absentee ministers.

There is no point trying to reform a police force from the bottom up ye need to make a few changes at the top too and devolution is one of these changes. I'd like the chief constable to be answering to irish politicans who answer to irish people.

i take your point zap but the way i see it the irish politicians will still be answerable to westminister

[ziggysego]

can someone please explain to me the big deal with devolving police and justice powers to the assembly? am i missing something? who cares or is it a big deal for nationalists?

Do you remember the RUC batering people up and down the gervaghy rd? This is allowed by unaccountable absentee ministers.

There is no point trying to reform a police force from the bottom up ye need to make a few changes at the top too and devolution is one of these changes. I'd like the chief constable to be answering to irish politicans who answer to irish people.

i take your point zap but the way i see it the irish politicians will still be answerable to westminister

Not regarding to the Departments, which have been devolved to the Assembly.

[Hurler on the Bitch]

A new vox-pop on the streets of Belfast ascertains the views of the public on the ongoing talks:

Look, you guys don't get it do you? It's a new Northern Ireland we want! We don't want to make the same mistakes as our parents! It is our future, so just take it! (The Alliance supporter).
Look, you guys don't get it do you? It's a new Agreed Ireland we want! The past is the past! It's about a future of equals! (The Sinn Fein supporter).
Look, you guys don't get it do you? It's a new North we want! We don't want to make the same mistakes as of yesteryear! It is our middle-class at stake, so just take it! (The SDLP supporter).
Look, you guys don't get it do you? It's a new Northern Ireland we want! We don't want to make the same mistakes as of yesteryear! It is our middle-class at stake, so just take it! (The Ulster Unionist supporter).
Look, they're only a shower of FENIANS! (The TUV supporter).
Look, they're only a shower of Roman Catholics! (DUP supporter).
Take me up the ARSE! (Iris Robinson's response).

[Minder]

can someone please explain to me the big deal with devolving police and justice powers to the assembly? am i missing something? who cares or is it a big deal for nationalists?

Do you remember the RUC batering people up and down the gervaghy rd? This is allowed by unaccountable absentee ministers.

There is no point trying to reform a police force from the bottom up ye need to make a few changes at the top too and devolution is one of these changes. I'd like the chief constable to be answering to irish politicans who answer to irish people.

i take your point zap but the way i see it the irish politicians will still be answerable to westminister

Not regarding to the Departments, which have been devolved to the Assembly.

Funded my Westminster.

[Zapatista]

Funded my Westminster.

It's pretty much all funded through westminster which is hardly going to change anytime soon so regarding these negotiations it's a necessity rather than an option.

[ziggysego]

I was watching UTV Live Tonight. According to Eamonn Mallie, it was a mad house at the DUP meeting all day. Very heated, a lot arguments and threats of resignations. Apparently the two main ones are Campbells and Dodds, no real surprises there.

Also said it could be Friday before a deal is reached.

[Zapatista]

Also said it could be Friday before a deal is reached.

It'll be good friday at this rate

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

I was watching UTV Live Tonight. According to Eamonn Mallie, it was a mad house at the DUP meeting all day. Very heated, a lot arguments and threats of resignations. Apparently the two main ones are Campbells and Dodds, no real surprises there.

Also said it could be Friday before a deal is reached.

Ah fcuk add Nelson McCausland to that list and I'd be a very happy man.

[ziggysego]

Two interesting tweets from @EamonnMallie

The deal was bagged on Saturday night apart from the wrappings. Peter Robinson threw it on the table. He/it was knocked back.

Nigel Dodds feels he is getting too much blame for absence of deal. Gregory Campbell's public remarks are upsetting other DUP members.

[DownFanatic]

Always remember the Lower Ormeau Road Residents Action Group leader Gerard Rice saying the following in the mid 90's:

"Surely to re-route a small number of marches cannot pose a threat to anyone's cultural heritage, unless hatred, intimidation and sectarianism are so deeply ingrained in the traditions of Orangism that to live at peace with one's neighbour is to lose one's identity."

[Carmen Stateside]

Whats the latest?
Mallie tweeting that Gerry Kelly said negotiations with DUP have ended. Is this just for today?  or is he saying no deal done?

[Hardy]

I believe SF's position is that the deal is done as far as they are concerned - Robinson signed up to it as leader of the DUP. It's now up to Robinson to deliver the DUP. If he can't, it's an election. The DUPs have to decide do they want an election that could see McGuinnes as FM or settle for not being able to parade up and down wherever they feel like it.

[Zapatista]

I wonder will Lenihan accuse him of being unpatriotic like he did the people struggling to pay their mortgages?

"A deal struck by the political leaders of Northern Ireland, and facilitated by the Governments, is also an important demonstration that Northern Ireland is open for business," Micheal Martin told a business breakfast in London.

"In these difficult economic times it is imperative that the world sees the North as a politically stable and increasingly normalised society which has considerable investment potential.

[ziggysego]

According to Mallie, the two Governments aren't making any plans to come yet. Plus Dodds says it's too early for some to be saying the deal is done.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

According to Mallie, the two Governments aren't making any plans to come yet. Plus Dodds says it's too early for some to be saying the deal is done.

There is never going to be a good time for some in the DUP.