Posted Elsewhere and the Story Rolls On - Northern Ireland Education

Over the weekend here in Northern Ireland we've had a First Minister Peter Robinson calling for an end to education apartheid then a response from the Catholic Church. Which are two stories I have posted about on Liberal Democrats in Northern Ireland.

The Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has accused his colleague of "taking on" the Catholic Church about it's provision of education. But Mr Robinson is not taking on the provision of the provision but the state funding of them to church schools. This would apply to all church schools, though the largest group would be the Catholic schools.

McGuinness has said:

"If Peter thinks taking on the Catholic Church, the Catholic bishops and indeed the Protestant churches for that matter and other interest groups is a sensible route to go, I think that is a big mistake.

"I think what we have to do is try and achieve and continue to build a consensus within our society about the need to develop shared services.

"If you go for a head-on collision with the so-called vested interests, that is a collision course which will lead us into a total and absolute mess."

Now I do think it is heading for a collision course, indeed I've said down the years how ludicrous the provision of new dual schools on one site sectarian primary schools in Scotland have been built. The separation of children for education purposes builds in difference, a barrier, a sense of otherness.

Donal Flanagan, chief executive of CCMS (Council for Catholic Maintained Schools) added to McGuinness's comments with:

"He is certainly not speaking as an educationalist because everybody knows that ethos adds value to education.

"If Peter Robinson wants an open, honest and inclusive debate on the future of education in Northern Ireland then why would he choose a platform at the installation of a DUP mayor in Castlereagh to launch this so I have to question his motive."

Well my mother is a educationalist. What's more she is someone who was involved in that most divisive of Northern Irish board curriculum items Religious Education. Earlier today she was telling me about the Education for Mutual Understanding (EMU) element which first came into Northern Ireland in 1983.

She was saying that there are some education establishments some are in the Catholic sector, some are in the state sector in staunch loyalist areas, who only paid lip service to EMU provision to their pupils. The education equivalent to break down that barrier wasn't and isn't working. She wishes that other children could have been like me and my brother, playing with our catholic neighbours outside of school time. Learning from an early age that there is no difference in them as individuals, rather than as some have to do after a separate education and housing system only learning that when they enter the workplace.

What Peter Robinson has done is to ask us in Northern Ireland to look deep within ourselves. To ask what is the problem? Where does it stem from? Is there anything we can do? It is a bold move. It is one that is not meant to devalue educationalists but to build up our children, build up our future and make the generations to come ones that Northern Ireland will be proud of.

We haven't fully dealt with the age old problems, isn't about time that we did?

Blogged Elsewhere #LDNI

Nick Clegg was visiting Northern Ireland yesterday. Me and Mícheál were a bit perplexed that our invites to join him for tea were clearly lost in the post. But he did invite Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness to see him which is probably more important*. Over at the Liberal Democrats in Northern Ireland blog I've written about the statements made by Nick and Peter yesterday, go have a look at what I said about it.

"Over time we clearly need to try and create a NI economy which is more diverse..."

Nick Clegg, Stormont Castle, 7 October 2010

* Though a future invite wouldn't go amiss.

Peter Robinson - Probe Findings

Yesterday it was announced that the Northern Irish First Minister was returning to duty (was he actually away)following the completion of the probe into his finances. The Electoral Commission's findings have been published. Here is what was found out against what Peter has claimed:

Peter Robinson source Newsletter June 2009

I give my assembly salary to the party.

Actual quote:

"Every one of our councillors, every one of our Assembly members, every one of our post holders, every one of our ministers, pays into the party in accordance with what they receive for those positions [second jobs etc].

"That means that the First Minister gives up completely his Assembly salary. As MPs, we only get a third from our second salary, but that goes over to the party.

"That would be the position for anyone who was double-jobbing in the period from the next election.

"Each MP will want to talk to their own constituency association before they make any public announcement about their intentions and some of them have started that process already."

Facts

As an MP and MLA Robinson's assembly salary is reduced to a third about £15,000. The commission found no donation exceeding £5,000. At the time £5,000 was the limit over which declarations had to be made. This is now £7,500!!!

So where is the other £10,000+? How much has he really given to the party?

DUP MLAs split 60/40 Over Justice Proposal

The DUP apparently last night were split 60/40 over the deal regarding justice that would probably have seen an end to the long negotiations that have been going on at Hillsborough Castle.

Sammy Wilson was unusually tight lipped about events (especially when compared to some of his utterances earlier in proceedings over the last 10 days):

"You have within any organisation your internal discussions (and) when you reach conclusions which impact on the public, then you go out and you give the outcome of those conclusions and that's what we did yesterday."

It would be interesting to speculate who is on which side of that internal party divide. I can think of a few names I'd expect to see firmly in one camp or the other but don't know enough about all of them to gauge the rest.

As it it the expectation is that talks will carry on for the rest of this week. So much for Brown giving them 48 hours before him imposed anything on them last Thursday.

UPDATE: Nigel Dodds has been somewhat more forthcoming not denying that 14 MLAs voted against the decision on the table last night. But saying that "first class unionist leader" who enjoyed "full support" of the party. He also said that those against had not threatened to resign, presonally I'm not too sure that last bit is the truth there is too much history of threatening to take the ball away especially from the DUP and some of it members (especially some who are former UUP elected representatives).

Brown Proffers Packages Tied Up With String

Police powers to Ulster,
Or is that "six counties".
Hours after hours of discussion and nothing.
Brown proffers packages tied up with string,
This is an old Northern Irish thing.

Forty eight hours to mull over the offer,
Then Brown will decide what becomes of the coppers,
Marches and justice are all in his hands.
Peter and Martin are on shifting sand.

When the times up
Loggerheads or not
They could be feeling bad.
They'll have to remember the thing that unites
And then they won't feel so mad.

Apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein but as Brown flies out of Northern Ireland without the deal being signed, I'm sure you'll agree it was worth it (the song not Brown's 48 hours in Hillsborough).

READ ALSO: Alistair Carmichael* the Liberal Democrats Northern Irish Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary of State gives his own view on the current situation on his new blog.

* By linking to him I'm not expected to escape his tap on my shoulder to prepare at Federal Conference Glee Club for enditions of either Flower of Scotland or Danny Boy.

Crunch Time In Northern Ireland

I may be having Burns' Night keeping a track on events in Northern Ireland, good job my tatties are in the form of colcannon then.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Irish counterpart Brian Cowen were meeting in London earlier this afternoon. But as 45 minutes of talks between Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness only appeared to make matters worse the two Prime Ministers decided they needed to be in Northern Ireland for face to face intervention, they are not in Hillsborough Castle and the parties are coming to talk with them.

No doubt I will have updates when they come along. I expect a long night.

Can Northern Irish Devolution Survive Last Week?

Of course currently all eyes are on just one Northern Irish political family. Of course at the start of last month that family consisted of 2 MPs, 2 MLAs and 2 Castlereagh Borough Councillors (yeah Gareth Robinson also represents the East Ward), not forgetting the post of First Minister.

But as Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said "devolution is bigger than one man", so with the fallout of Northern Ireland's first family can devolution survive? I would say yes.

My reason for this stems from the fact that a few years ago even my jaw scraped the floor. It was the occasion of TV coverage of Ian Paisley sitting down laughing with Gerry Adams, with Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson in attendance at the start of the current partnership. This was for anyone used to Northern Irish politics the sign that the will of the people could overcome the will of the individuals concerned. To have the DUP and Sinn Fein sitting down in the one room, promising to sit together in power was something that many of us only dreamed off and turned off in our waking moments.

Therefore whether Peter is still ensconced office of the First Minister at the end of this week, or the DUP are preparing to select a successor the process will carry on. As I blogged earlier the most talked about alternative is Sammy Wilson which may not be everyone's ideal as a successor, and certainly isn't mine, but other options are of a somewhat similar ilk. The fact is that if the DUP do appoint a replacement First Minister or keep Robinson the politics of Northern Ireland will keep on moving, because the people want it to.

The biggest obstacle, that with hindsight it now appears that Robinson hasn't been 100% focused on, is the devolution of policing and justice. The current diversion may have been putting this on the back burner, but it is indeed one area (after many such) that Northern Ireland parties used to stare across a big divide over. The distance has been cut down somewhat but there are still, as ever, some of the biggest obstacles still outstanding.

Sinn Fein are wanting immediate transfer of these powers but the DUP have been stalling claiming it could only happen on the condition of community confidence. As recently as Thursday the DUP chief whip Maurice Morrow said he didn't expect them to the transferred in the lifetime of this assembly. Sinn Fein are calling for the Secretary of State to act as Guarantor of the St. Andrews' Agreement on this issue.

So whatever the outcome of this week I see Northern Irish devolution carrying on, though we need to see some joint up government starting in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The fact that Peter Robinson wasn't willing on Friday to meet with Martin McGuinness while this crisis was developing shows that the relationship is still only one of political convenience. It needs to become one of political expediency for the good of the people that the Northern Irish politicians have been elected to serve.

Devolution Bigger Than One Man

Peter Brookes in The Times 9 January 2010

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has insisted that the "devolution process is bigger than one man" as the DUP after expelling Iris Robinson turns its attention this week to her husband.

A Senior Free Presbyterian Minister, the church founded by Ian Paisley, the Rev David McIlveen has joined calls for the First Minister to step down saying:

"I do believe that his position is becoming increasingly untenable. He has a major problem with regard to solving his own family difficulties and I personally cannot take the view that a person's private life does not affect their public life."

So if at the end of the week Peter Robinson does step down who is liable to replace his as leader of the DUP and First Minister. There is talk of moves to make Sammy Wilson take the role as first Minister and Arlene Foster the role of party leader in a split role.

Sammy started his life with the DUP as their press officer in 1981, and shortly after was elected to Belfast City Council, a position he still holds. He was the first DUP Lord Mayor of the city in 1986/7 a position he held again in 2000/1. He's been an ever present Assembly Member being returned in the first election in 1998 for East Belfast, and for the second in 2003 for East Antrim. In 2005 he defeated Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs who had been MP for 22 years to take the Westminster seat as well with a majority of 7,304; he'd just failed to do so in 2001 by 128 votes.

Sammy entered ministerial office as Minister for the Environment, where he famously showed climate change denying tenancies with quotes such as "reasoned debate must replace the scaremongering of the green climate alarmists" and "resources should be used to adapt to the consequences of climate change, rather than King Canute-style vainly trying to stop it". After failing to introduce an independent environmental protection agency and banning a climate change advert from Northern Irish screens in February 2009, he was moved in the June 2009 to Department of Finance and Personnel.

Peter Robinson described him on his appointment as the "most qualified finance minister Northern Ireland has had in decades", with his degree in Economics and Politics from Queens, and subsequent teaching qualification for the same. Here too he has not avoided criticism this time from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities when he said "jobs should go to people born in Northern Ireland before going to economic migrants". Also when their were attacks on Romanian people in Belfast he had said "charges of racism were always coincided with the holding out of the hand for more money".

His voting record in Westminster indicates:

• Voted a mixture of for and against a transparent Parliament.
• Voted very strongly for introducing a smoking ban.
• Voted strongly against introducing ID cards.
• Voted moderately against Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
• Voted moderately for an investigation into the Iraq war.
• Voted for replacing Trident.
• Voted moderately against equal gay rights.
• Voted strongly against laws to stop climate change.

Arlene started out life in the UUP and it was with them that she was elected in the November 2003 Assembly elections for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. However, on 5 January 2004 she along Jeffrey Donaldson and Norah Beare in joining the DUP after resigning from the UUP the month before. She became the Environment Minister in May 2007, one of her early roles was to preliminary approval to a privately financed scheme for a new Giant's Causeway Centre, shortly after doing so the public money to Northern Ireland's top tourist destination was frozen. She was succeeded in this role when she was reshuffled to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment.

Others who may throw their hat into a contest though may include Jeffrey Donaldson or Nigel Dodds both of whom are experienced DUP politicians.

Last Long Week for Iris in Politics?

News is coming from Northern Ireland that Iris Robinson will be stepping down as MP and MLA within the week.

The effect at this time means that it is so close to the possible dissolution that no formal writ would be moved in time [pdf link] to replace her at Westminster. The convention under the STV elections for the Northern Irish Assembly currently mean that the sitting party will appoint a replacement if they lose a MLA.

A DUP spokesperson has said they will move quickly to replace Mrs Robinson in her Strangford Assembly seat. Adding:

"We wanted to show people we were acting decisively. There was no question about it, she had to go and go now.

"There was absolutely no sympathy for the position she found herself in."

Shaun Woodward the Northern Irish Secretary won't be winning any plain English awards for his intervention into the debate on the First Minister's tenuous position. He said earlier today:

"It is a responsibility on everyone in the assembly to understand that the consequences of allowing the political process to slide would undoubtedly have an impact on the broader canvas.

"And that if anybody were to be selfish enough to think this is a moment when that can be allowed to be put in the deep freeze, even some may wish to unpick, they would be extremely irresponsible, foolish and would be playing very, very dangerous games."

He also echoed calls from East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell who said that Peter Robinson should be given to week to clear his name. Saying:

"I think Peter Robinson has the confidence of his party - that is the position and has been the position.

"But he himself has said that he wants to put his own credibility on the line in the manner in which he has done by setting up this investigation which in some respects is a very brave thing to do.

"Peter himself has asked for a week to resolve those issues, respond to them and refute them.

"I think we should allow him that week and hopefully we then move on in a week's time."

So Iris is to find her retirement from political life coming sooner than she wanted.

But another interesting development is that donations from Peter Robinson's First Ministerial salary to the DUP have not been reported to the Electoral Commission. The Commission has announced they there are looking into the DUP's donations after the First Minister had been been quoted in the Newsletter in June 2009 as saying he was doing so.

The other day Peter Robinson said that there no financial impropriety on his part. Therefore either his party are hiding his contributions, or his lied about giving then to the party, no doubt the Electoral Commission will get to the bottom of yet another issue with donations and the Robinsons.

Counsel to Look into the Tenability of NI First Minister's Position

Babish: You broke some laws, Abbey, and quite frankly you should be ashamed of yourself, but this investigation isn't about that.
Abbey: Look...
Babish: It's about the criminalization of politics. An attempt to do in the hearing room what they couldn't do at the ballot box.
Abbey: I understand, but we don't have the luxury...
Babish: Abbey, stop eating fruits, stop eating vegetables, it's doing something bad to you. Fruits and vegetables will seduce you, like a woman, with their...
Abbey: Oliver!
Babish: Truth isn't a luxury. You're going to go in there, you're going to swear an oath, you're going to get asked questions, and you're going to tell the truth. It's the way you stand up and say 'Stop!'
Abbey: You should be careful Oliver. You keep talking like a person, they're going to kick you out of the bar.
Babish: I've been kicked out of bars before.
Abbey: I meant...
Babish: I know what you meant.

from All Gone Quiet episode 3-06 The West Wing

So Peter Robinson was back in BBC Northern Ireland earlier to say that he was employing a senior counsel, no not Oliver Babish, to look at the Spotlight programme of last night and ask him any questions they wish to ask to give an opinion as to what he should have disclosed or whether I have breached an obligation.

Things have been moving fast today though, journalist Eamonn Mallie reported the DUP Officers were meeting at 4:30 this evening and then that Deputy First Minister Martin MacGuinness was meeting Gordon Brown annoyed that the First Minister hadn't returned his requests all day for a meeting.

However, Robinson is remaining defiant that he has done nothing wrong, he even says that he was shocked of some of the allegations in the programme. This doesn't seem to be going down well either within his own party or in the other half of the OFMDFM. He does however say that the reverse repayments of the money was carried out through a solicitor.

On the question of him telling his wife to resign all her political offices at the time rather than waiting for them to run their course, he told Mark Davenport "you jump to conclusions, based on the smears in the Spotlight programme". The only advise he believed he should have given was that his wife should have paid it back in the proper manner.

However, surely as a longer standing MP and in light of the who issue over MPs expenses earlier this year surely it would have dawned on him to also advise his wife to declare the original loans ever if they were being repaid. He doesn't seem to deny that the loans were made to her and or her hands on dealing with their repayment.

Sir Reg Empey the leader of the UUP is calling on Mrs Robinson to vacate all her public offices from today, saying it is not right to carry on receiving pay from the public purse for them in light of the revelations about her financial dealings.

UPDATE: Mind you somebody has been quick of the mark reworking that Simon and Garfunkle classic to take into account recent events. Hat tip to Slugger O’Toole via Paul Walters

Robinson Reaction

The BBC Spotlight programme looking into the dealings of Iris Robinson and her teenage lover has led to all sorts of reaction.

First up as the BBC Report Ulster Unionist leader (and the Minister of my old department under devolution) Sir Reg Empey says Iris's position as MP, MLA and councillor are all untenable.

The Independent look at the sex, money and bigotry that surround the Robinson's as the revelations have come out. Looking at how the revelations we have only just heard about affected his ability to perform as first minister they say:

"For many months, Peter has been curiously inactive as First Minister, holding back on moves to devolve policing powers to Northern Ireland in a way which has puzzled most at Stormont. The most frequently advanced explanation for this was that he was, as Sinn Fein claimed, "spooked" by the fear of losing seats to hardline opponents in the Westminster election.

"But now, an alternative explanation is emerging: he has been grappling not just with political complications but with personal ones – struggling to deal with the behaviour of his colourful wife."

The Belfast Telegraph both use the image of Ann Bancroft seducing young Dustin Hoffman, as I did last night, how Iris is now paying for her lust and greed. But also look at the wider implications for the Democratic Unionist Party. Saying:

"Revelations about sexual indiscretions and questions over financial dealings can be damaging for any politician and any political party.

"But the DUP is not just any party. Its roots lie deep in fundamentalist conservative Protestantism and a brand of religion personified by Ian Paisley, who founded it and towered over it as leader until 2008.

"The key question now is: will the crisis facing the Robinsons impact on an already tarnished brand? The party has already had some tough times. Part of its traditional base was left in disarray by the 2007 decision to form a coalition with Sinn Fein."

The Irish Times point out that questions are being raised about Peter's dealings in this. Pointing out that on Wednesday in his interview whilst providing no further detail about his wife encouraging friends to support her lover Kirk McCambley he had said:

"In all of my public life I have acted in the most professional and ethical way. There is nothing that anybody will produce."

An interesting turn of phrase 'there is nothing that anybody will produce' why not the word 'can' or 'could' instead of 'will'. Also why use 'produce' why not just "There is nothing that anybody has to prove otherwise"?

Their print edition had also running with the story of how yesterday the fundamentalist Christians in Northern Ireland, not normally backward in defending 'morality', had held fire over Iris Robinson's fall from grace.

"It's easier to understand the warmth of feeling towards the wronged husband, rendered suddenly gaunt, fragile and uncharacteristically emotional. But there has been little hellfire and brimstone rhetoric towards Iris from the fundamentalist Protestant community that is the natural constituency of her party, the Democratic Unionist Party founded by Ian Paisley.

"You might think that this would be the perfect opportunity for a spot of thundering about the sins of scarlet women. Instead, the response from that sector has largely been quiet, muted and empathetic."

So that is just a taste of the spectrum of opinion among the broadsheets to last nights revelations the red tops of course took great delight in the age difference, with only passing reference to the financial or political implications.

NI First Minister Knew of Wife's Dodgy Dealings #IrisRobinson

Tonight in BBC NI Spotlight are looking at the Robinson families sway over Castlereagh Borough Council. Slugger O'Toole has a live blog which you can review of the events as they unfolded between the Tweeters and the participants.

Between them Peter and Iris have both served on the council, there are a number of public buildings in the area the last one of which I was in was the Dundonald Ice Bowl. Peter served from 1977-2007, Alderman Iris since 1989.

There is one other important building in Castlereagh Borough Council. It sits on a hill. It is the seat if the Northern Irish Assembly. It may for not very much longer the office of Peter Robinson First Minister. Apparently Mrs Robinson took £50,000 from two property developers and the money was given to the 19 year old man with whom she had an affair. She also failed to declare her interest.

In Christmas 2008 while the two were in holiday in Florida. There were plans afoot for the young man to pay the money back. Iris was planning to keep some to pay her debts, and the rest to go to Metroplitan Tabernacle Church. However, Peter stepped in to say it should go back to the people it was taken from. He apparently didn't know that the 19-year-old at that time was her lover as well as implicating his wife, fellow MP, MLA and councillor on his old stumping ground. That revelation came 3 months later.

Considering that both Henry McLeish and David McLetchie had to resign as First Minister and Leader of the Scottish Tories for far less transgressions than this surely Peter Robinson's days are numbered. Even if he wasn't directly involved his lack of disclosure tarnishes him, and his statement last night was not that of a broken man, but a worried man. Worried about what was still to come.

The DUP under the reigns of Big Ian were always seen as the protector of Northern Ireland from the loose morals of the world. Now the world knows what some of the rest of us have known that there is corruption within the DUP and it is worse at times that even the worse excesses of the MPs from the rest of the UK. Why else keep up your seat(s) on council for election cycles long after being elected to other higher offices.

The DUP can no longer look down on everyone with a sanctimonious air.

Oh BTW there was also the naming of the young man whom Iris had an affair with.

Where Now for Irish Family Robinson?

The last time I passed comment on the Irish family Robinson, I was slated in some of the comments that followed after Iain Dale linked to my post. However, today with the full revelation from Iris and response from Peter I feel that some further comment needs to be made.

First off I agree with Iain that Peter looked to be on the verge of a breakdown during his interview earlier. What I'm amazed by is that he has been able to carry on without any hint of this since 1 March last year. Therefore unlike Iain I think he has had 9 months to get used to the fact that his wife has had an affair, the frame of mind for the interview was just a matter of saying something very hard in a public domain. Something that touches the very person of who you are. It was a brave thing for him to have done rather that just leave a statement.

Iris's statement does through up some unanswered questions in the detail. Not that I'm expected her to answer these just now. She says that the affair started over a year and a half ago. Therefore in term of Iris's own history, with myself and other people who have commented on her this is before she said that gays should seek psychiatric help. It is also before Peter backed her up by saying that the bible called it an abomination.

Of course Peter was just being the good DUP Christian that he was in referencing Leviticus 20:13, however 3 verses earlier we have.

"If there is a man who commits adultery with another man's wife, one who commits adultery with his friend's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." Lev. 20:10 (New American Standard Version)

But as Peter shows there is more to being a Christian that the Old Testament. Indeed in his own words he says:

"Iris sought my forgiveness, she took responsibility upon herself alone for her actions and I have forgiven her. More important, I know that she has sought and received God's forgiveness."

Now is not the time for the gay community in Northern Ireland, or elsewhere, to take a stand against Iris or the Robinson family. Now is a time for her healing and recovery. But a time will come when the practical example of Peter not to take Old Testament Levitical law literally, especially with such proximity to that of his views on homosexuality must come to bear. Peter also needs time to get over the hard task he underwent today. He says he will be back at his desk tomorrow, good for him I say, if he (and indeed his wife) is ready to do that then that is where he should be.

However, the fact that the first couple of Northern Ireland politics have been seen as fallible, may actually in the long run turn out to be a breakthrough point in the Northern Irish LGBT situation.

Now I know that some will feel that none of the above needed to be said. But having seen some of the reaction over the last few hours I think that there most certainly are parts of this for both sides of the debate that need to be said now, while the thought is fresh. It isn't meant to hurt anyone but to bookmark lessons for the future.

Some of you who have not be raised in Northern Ireland will not realise the sway that biblical teaching has over every aspect of your live. It can be used as a hammer against you, but everyone eventually cracks and then they realise that there is hope, a word also used by Peter Robinson about the future of his life with Iris.

Once again I wish Iris a full recovery from her depression, she is clearly taking some of the steps along the way and being honest about the things that led to or resulted of of that is one of those steps.

Hope Against Hope Against Violence

There are days that no matter which part of the UK you come from you hid your head in shame. For the English there are football and cricketing failures. For the Scots the general, annual malaise in most sports. But for the Northern Irish is usually comes some time in July as regular as clockwork.

Yesterday evening as the news started to break through of the annual trouble surrounding the marching I was wondering how bad can it get. Being somewhat closeted over in Scotland I went to bed hoping against hope once more that full scale civil unrest or war breaks out overnight.

You see in Northern Ireland shots being fired at the police and Molotov cocktails don't just exist in the world of Grand Theft Auto, oh no! They have long been an existence in reality for the youth growing up, even from the time before I could crawl.

On Saturday I blogged about 6 new style beacons that were lit on Sunday evening, beacons that were trying to recognise one part of the culture of the people and while not doing away with it bring it up to date for the modern age, bring it into harmony across the divides. But of course it is not the pyres that are lit at this time of year that are the most contentious issue it is the rights to march and the rights to not have sectarian triumphalism thrust down your throat if you don;t want it.

Of course there are signs of light on the marching issue, earlier in the week the First Minister Peter Robinson met with the residents' group leaders of the Garvaghy Road. Significant steps were made towards that 12 year stand off that often is the high or low light of the marching season. The nationalist residents said that the DUP leader was open minded and understood the residents' concerns.

Sinn Féin were also condemning the violence in the Ardoyne and Rasharkin yesterday, Gerry Kelly MLA saying:

'This evening’s actions expose very clearly the anti-peace process and sectarian agenda which feeds these factions. It has nothing whatever to do with Irish republicanism.'

'They [The Real IRA] chose to try and use the opportunity presented by this parade to further an agenda which has time and again been rejected by the republican community in Ardoyne and everywhere else.'

So looking at who is working together to forge a peace I am glad. The extreme edges of Northern Ireland society appear to be getting smaller. The majority wanting peace is getting bigger. However, that just makes the steps as Gerry said of an 'anti-peace process' all the more magnified as the people of Northern Ireland are striving for a greater normality than at any time in my lifetime.

First Minster to Stop Double Jobbing

Sadly not the one in Holyrood but the one in Stormont.

Yes, there has been a valid reason until it was shown the the DUP/Sinn Fein executive could work. As Mick Fealty over on Slugger O'Toole points out the announcement that the MPs will not carry on hold Ministerial or Committee chairs in the Assembly came in my home town of Bangor. It effectively means he is also about to remove his wife from the chair of the Health Committee.

So if the DUP can do away with dual mandates after merely a year after resuming a stable and workable agreement with their tersest rivals for the past number of decades what excuse does the MP for Banff and Buchan and MSP for Gordon have left for holding down two jobs over two years after assuming power and maintaining good ratings in the polls ever since?

Time For Northern Ireland to Unite and Say No

'Ulster Says No!' was the slogan used by the Unionist groups across Northern Ireland at the start of the Anglo-Irish talks. Banners with that slogan or variations on the theme were displayed from the offices of Unionist controlled councils including Belfast City Hall.



Well the escalation of troubles and threats in Northern Ireland last night make this the opportune time to dust off that slogan. But this time instead of belonging to one community attempting to stand in the way of integration and steps towards harmony and reconciliation, it should be a united front. To have the leaders of both side in the community standing together saying no to the resurrection of violence. No to the reigniting of barricades and no to the threats of bombs across the province.



It is time for Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams to stand behind First Minister Peter Robinson and his Deputy Martin Maginnis as they stand together to say no. This no would be a positive no unlike that of the 80s which is why the figure heads of both sides from then, although taking a back seat now, need to stand there with the current heads of the Assembly.



Northern Ireland doesn't want the new generation to have to go through what I went through. We've moved on, seen improvements in our way and standards of life. This new threat of an escalation of attacks is going to take that new-found, long-awaited hope away. The generation who know little of that apart from what they read in history books should be allowed to only read about that history not live through a new chapter of it.



Time for the people of Northern Ireland in one united voice to say no.

Here's to You Mr. Robinson

So the DEmocratic Unionist Party have named Peter Robinson as the sucessor to the Rev. Ian Paisley as party leader. So for those not too familiar with Northern Ireland politics who is the man who has stood in the shadow of Dr No for so long.

Robinson was born in 1948 and was educated at Annadale Grammer School and Castlereagh College of Further Education both of which reside in his Belfast East constituency. He 1970 he married Iris Collins. She was elected MP for Strangford in 2001 making them the first husband and wife team to represent Northern Irish constituencies in Westminster.

He is a foundation member of the DUP, being an executive member since 1973, was elected secretary of the Central Executive Committee the following year and the party's first General-Secretary in 1975.

He first win in politics was to Castlereagh Borough Council in 1977 a seat he retained until 2007, when he finally stepped aside from his trio of roles. In 1979 he was first elected to Westminster, for East Belfast, with a margin of 64 votes over the Ulster Unionist Party encumbant William Craig, and 928 votes ahead of the non-sectarian Alliance Party's leader Oliver Napier. He has held the seat ever since athough with all the other Unionist MPs in Northern Ireland he resigned his seat in 1985 in protest at the Anglo-Irish Agreement but had no difficulty in retaining it at the subsequent by election. He is the longest sitting Member of Parliament for any Belfast seat since the Act of Union in 1800.

Also as part of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Protest Robinson led a group of 500 loyalist into Clontibret, Co. Monaghan over the border where they entered the Garda Síochána (police) Station, held a military style drill session and assaulted two officers. Robinson was arrested for the incident and pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly at Drogheda Court where he was fines £17,500. A subsequent court appearance in Dundalk led to a riot and him being branded an senior extremist politician by the Judge.

In November 1986 he spoke at the Ulster Hall for the launch of Ulster Resistance a group which collaborated with the UVF and UDA to procure arms ready for a potential civil war to maintain the Union.

Robinson was also elected in 1982 to the ill-fated, short-lived Northern Irish Assmebly. Subsequently he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum which led to the Good Friday Agreement and again topped the poll for East Belfast at the 1998 Assembly Elections. In the devolved stages of that first executive Robinson served as Minister for Regional Development, where he helped formulate the 25 year Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland and he devised the ten-year Regional Transport Strategy. After the five year suspension when the Northern Ireland Executive reformed he became Minister for Personel and Finance, but in June he will suceed as First Minister.