Making a messy bed for Peter Robinson #ConscienceClause

Paul Givan last night of BBC's The View and again on the radio during this morning's Stephen Nolan Show said he wanted to extend his conscience clause to allow B&B owners to deny unmarried heterosexual couples as well. The reason of course is because allowing them to share a bed, or room, or even the same establishment (people can move rooms or beds in the night you know) would conflict with deeply held beliefs.

However, I've just thought of one issue that he has just created for his own party's leader. When the time comes for Peter Robinson to replaced the tax payer funded marital bed (see the Daily Telegraph c. 2010) will he be able to get one from a Christian run furniture store. The issue of course lies not with Mr Robinson himself, but with Mrs Robinson. It is rumoured that some of the affair that led to her leaving public office and largely public life took place in said bed.

Could something like this mean no Robinson bed?

To replace this a Christian store owner could deny selling the Robinson's a new bed, not just for their marital bed but for any room of the house. The store owner may not have surety that the bed would not be used for purposes that conflict with their deeply held religious beliefs. After all there is someone who had admitted to adultery in the household and there is no guarantee that the new bed might not be used for adultery yet again. Because these Christian business owners that Paul Givan wants to protect can't seem to see beyond the label and consider behaviour. After all a same-sex couple looking to stay in a B&B may well be a married couple (elsewhere in the UK or other nations that recognise same-sex marriage), yet even the unmarried heterosexual could be turned away.

So I'm sorry to break the news to the First Minister but under the expenses scandal he has got himself a bed that he may have to keep unless he can a store owner with no conscience objections to selling him a new one. Maybe Ann Summers around the corner from Ashers could put him in touch with someone.

A simple choice says Peter

"Flag-lowering, parade-stopping, gay marriage supporting, pro-water charging, holier than thou Alliance Party".

Was the recommendation that Peter Robinson made of the Alliance Party in his speech this afternoon, so let me take those epithets that raised raucous applause from the small minded, one directioned, homophobic, financially irresponsible, holier than God himself DUP delgates found so humourous and look at them one by one.

Flag lowering: Whilst this relates to Belfast City Council, for Derry City Council and many of the councils to the West of the Bann the Alliance Party policy on flying the Union Flag on designated days is actually a flag raising policy. Yes it is one that Sinn Féin and the SDLP need some work on to see it as being fair to the minority of unionists who live in the council areas that they live in. Some of those Unionists undoubtedly vote DUP but haven't seen the Union Flag fly from their civic buildings for years. Therefore where is the DUP call for the flag to fly on all public buildings to mark the Royal Birthdays, the Queen's Coronation Day etc? Of course designated days is what happens in most council areas in Great Britain, indeed some fly other flags Orkney flies the Norwegian Flag on Norway Day, and many the Rainbow flag for Pride.

So make that Flag Raising or Flag Equality

Parade stopping: No doubt refers to the Twadell Avenue stand off, but it was the Parade's Commission as voted for by 71% of the Northern Irish people in response to the Belfast Agreement who decided that one final part of their parade home on the Twelve in 2013 should not go past a parade of shops in a nationalist area. This was based on previous violence in the area from both sides over previous parades. The DUP of course are supporting the cost of policing the ongoing action there  in hundreds of thousands of pounds, while the PSNI this week announced some cuts to manning of police stations to try and meet budget constraints on top of suspending historical enquiry work.

So make that Police Supporting and People Respecting.

Gay Marriage Supporting: Of course marriage equality is not just about the gays (and lesbians), it also affects the bisexuals and those who are transgender and intersex. But then when you are used to attcking just the G of the LGBT+ spectrum you can't be expected to know the details of some of my potential partners I an marry but others I cannot, spousal vetoes and stolen years of "togetherness". Nor does it allow those faith groups that want to carry out same-sex marriages the same rights as their brethren in England, Wales and very soon Scotland. Of course when you defend the union and attack LGBT+ equality on a par with the rest of the Kingdom you make a certain section second class citizens in their own land.

So make that Equal Marriage Supporting or just Equality Supporting.

Pro-Water Charging: Water charging is just one possible way to increase government income. We do have a failing water and sewage provision infrastructure which needs a sizeable amount of work and replacement. One way this is funding in England, Wales and Scotland is through the water charge component in the council tax. So yeah while we have a financial crisis shouldn't we be looking at the various ways that we miss out on the revenue that the rest of the UK can call upon to actually do stuff with, but then doing stuff and the Assembly are two things that very rarely go together. Of course Peter Robinson is looking to get control of local corporation tax, but that is only so he can lower it to match the Republic of Ireland and therefore create more holes in budgets. Taxes and revenue need to meet expenditure not cause even more savings to be sought.

So make that Fiscally Responsible.

Holier than thou: Coming from a party that fails to take into account people of non-Christian, Roman Catholic Faith, or no faith into consideration this seems rather rich. When their definition of what is right is based on a rather narrow reading of the Bible which not even every Christian in Northern Ireland holds to 100%. When they cannot legislate for the state without reference to the bible it is clear who truly is Holier than thou, though I suspect that like the Pharisees and Sadducees before them are actually Holier than God creating extra laws and legislations to go on top of what Moses was given. This is why Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love. For until you can live up to that one you cannot possibly start to consider the others and that is where the hate for certain sectors and failure to understand equality legislation leads to.

So finally I make that  Being a Good Samaritan for EVERYONE.

So in conclusion what Peter failed to see is that the Alliance Party is actually:

Flag Equality Everywhere, Police Supporting, People Respecting, Equality Supporting, Fiscally Responsible, Good Samaritan for EVERYONE

So yeah it is a simple choice for the people of East Belfast. If they want progress and normality that most of the Western World knows, loves and experiences then they can vote for Naomi Long. If they want to carry on with the bigotry, keeping others down and lurching from one financial crisis to another they can back Gavin Robinson.

Can Peter Robinson please define bonkers?

So last night Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson said of the decision of the Equality Commission to consider taking legal action against Ashers:

"This kind of decision from the Equality Commission is bonkers. They really do need to wind their necks in. 

"In times when we are scrapping around trying to get funding for essential services for Northern Ireland, they are tossing it away."

No forgive me it I am wrong but there were recent cuts to services announced in health care provision, which is run by one of his party's ministers, whose predecessor has run up large legal bills to try and prevent gay couples from adopting, this was lost in the supreme court in October 2013. That department is also pursuing legal appeals against a decision that the lifetime ban on Men who've had Sex with Men (MSM) is irrational and should also come into line with the rest of the UK.

Yes, you see there is a department that is scrapping around trying to get funding for essential service that has been tossing it away trying to prevent equality.

So I ask Peter Robinson which is  bonkers?

Is it seeking a ruling on something that there is clearly some dispute on, or ignoring or refusing to acknowledge judicial rulings until all levels of appeal are expended at the public's expense?

To appeal to liberals DUP have to be liberal

Apparently Peter Robinson's moves to attend GAA games are to woo liberal unionists according to today's Belfast Telegraph.

If the DUP really want to woo liberals, why don't they start to send a representative to the discussion panels that form part of the Pride weeks around Northern Ireland. Until they are seen to be listening to everyone they cannot be seen as 'liberal'.

First Minister takes his seat...

...at the GAA Dr McKenna Cup Final.

Now those of you outside Northern Ireland may be saying this is no biggy it is only a game. This is the first time a Unionist First Minister (or Prime Minister) has attended a game of the Gaelic Athletic Association, ever! Tom Elliot, his opposite number as leader of the UUP, said in his bid for the leadership in September 2010 that he would not attend GAA or gay events.

One wonders if the Pride organisers in Northern Ireland are sending off their invites to Peter Robinson to attend one of their events this summer after his has shown his is inclusive on one of the things that the other main Unionist Party in Northern Ireland's leader has shown reticence over. After all my predictions for this year did include the suggestion that a DUP politician would take part in Pride events this year.

Either way the attendance at a GAA event is big news. It shows that the First Minister is serious about inclusiveness. It is not a first for the DUP, Edwin Poots, while Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure did attend the same event 4 years ago. He may have arrived in his seat after the Irish National Anthem was sung, but then the current Minister for CAL, Carál Ní Chuilín, arrived at her first Northern Ireland football international after Good Save the Queen. But that he was there is none the less a significant step.

The First Minister said:

"It's good to be here. I have had several meetings with the GAA, at a meeting-to-meeting level and when the invitation came I was glad to take it up. 

"I'm not sure if I have caught all the finer points of the game, but I'm on the side of the referee on this one!"

As for the finer points of the game that can only come with attending more of them. It may also be too early to start kitting out the Castlereagh man with all the An Dún regalia, jersey, hoody, ball etc as a Down man should start to have. But when he feels confortable about getting one so he can wear it with the gay Gaelic players in Belfast Pride he could always purchase in in the O'Neills' Store in Enniskillen.

Robinson takes "Them and Us" on Tour

Oh dear! What can the matter be?
Peter Robinson might be starting a calamity.

At the weekend Peter Robinson called for an end of "them and us" in Northern Ireland politics only it didn't seem present from his party in the chamber of Education Training Colleges yesterday. Now it seems he wants to step into Scottish Politics, or does he?

Of course the big question for Northern Irish Unionists over the SNP's call for separation is that once the Union starts to break up in one part what is to stop it happening elsewhere. Look at recent history.

The USSR  in 1990 the Russian Federation started to pass laws that superseded the USSR declaring sovereignty over its territory the largest of the Soviet Republics. In March of 1991 a referendum on the preservation of the Union only carried a majority in 9 of the 15 Republics though passed overwhlemingly as a whole. The seeds of separatism were watered as a result. The coup d'état against the USSR President Gorbachev that August further strengthened the position of the Russian President Yeltsin. On 8 December the three largest republics Russia, Ukraine and Belarus had signed Belavezha Accords which declared the Soviet Union dissolved and the Commonwealth in Independent States in its place. On 21st all the Republics but Georgia had signed the Alma-Ata Protocol confirming the accords. It led to the Christmas Day announcement that Gorbachev was declaring his position extinct and the following day the Supreme Soviet followed suit.
Yugoslavia coming out of the first world war the Kingdom of Serbia, and the States of Croatia and Slovenes were united. They became known as Yugoslavia in 1928. The ethnic tension of the various groups started to grow after the death of Tito in 1980. In 1986 Slobodan Milošević tried to restored the sovereignty of the Serb majority, the Croatians and Slovenes objected. In January 1990 an extraordinary congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia was convened. Milošević insisted on one person, one vote to ensure the plurality of the Serb voice was dominant. The Slovenes backed by the Croats wanted more power devolved to the republics, they were voted down. Their delegations then left the congress effectively dissolving the all-Yugoslavia Communist Party. In 1990 the Republics decided to hold multi-party elections following the collapse of communism elsewhere. However, there was ethnic unrest in a number of the republics throughout 1990 and eventually on 25 June 1991 to the declaration of Independence of Slovenia and Croatia  but due to communication in Slovenia the transition of power from the Yugoslav led to some light skirmishes. Of course that wasn't the case with Croatia or later with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In both the above cases there was a domino effect as each of the constitute parts wanted independence from the Union. Is what Peter Robinson fears that a Scottish secession going to lead to a Welsh pursuit of the same and then a why are we united to just England from Northern Ireland leading either to independence or a united Ireland?

Is he saying there is an end of them and us, but  we don't want us to become them by stealth `because the United Kingdom ends up breaking up. There are many good federalist arguments to be put forward for a high level of devolution across the UK as reasons to safe the Union but give power to the local people (not just disproportionately to Scotland). Having Peter Robinson using such overtly Northern Ireland needs this without addressing issues across the UK as a whole is not the way to do it. Peter really needs to get out the us mentality himself on this one, realise that his small world's eye outlook needs to see what can be of a benefit to all in the UK if he wants to keep the Union not just what he can keep for himself.

Prison reform should be free of partisan political control and Robinson threats

The First Minister Peter Robinson seems to think that throwing his toys out of the pram is the way to go to enable an inclusive prison service in  Northern Ireland. The issue arose in the debate on the Prison Review: Final Report at Stormont yesterday. The thing that seems to concern him most is the issue of the emblems used by the Northern Ireland Prison Service and most noticeably on the sign for the prisons themselves.

The Justice Minister, David Ford made remarks in his summation particularly in response to Jim Allister of Traditional Unionist Voice who had earlier said:

We also know that the reform of policing involved a name change. Are we going to have a name change of the prisons? Are they no longer going to be Her Majesty’s prisons? Perhaps the Minister, in replying, will confirm to us most robustly that that will not happen. I will listen with interest to see whether he does. Like the reform of policing, is the badge of the Prison Service to be changed? Is the crown to go? Let us hear from the Minister a robust denial that that will be any part of the agenda. When we read that the reform of the Prison Service must be like the reform of policing, alarm bells ring very loudly indeed. We wait with interest to see whether that is part of the machinations that are afoot.

The Minister's response to that particular issue and the interruption is recorded in Hansard as follows:

Mr Ford: Jim Allister referred to some extent to symbols and titles as they apply to the Prison Service. Those are operational issues for the Prison Service, but I believe that if NIPS is serious about fundamental and end-to-end structural and cultural reform, it cannot fail to consider the symbols and emblems that are visible signs of the organisation’s culture and focus. That is one of a range of operational issues that I will be expecting NIPS to consider as part of the change process over the coming months. NIPS has to deliver a transformation of its culture and it cannot move forward unless it addresses those sorts of issues along with others relating to staffing and estates, and so on.
Mr Allister: So that we are absolutely clear, is the Minister saying that he anticipates an end to our prisons being called “Her Majesty’s prisons” and that he anticipates an end to the crown being part of the symbol of the Prison Service? Will he be clear on that? If he is saying those things, I want to tell him that there are many in the unionist community who will be appalled at the direction in which he is taking us.
Mr Ford: I think that it is a pity that we are getting hung up on symbols. It is the only issue that anybody has wanted to intervene on during my speech this afternoon. I said that we are looking at a process of fundamental and end-to-end reform that will affect every part of the working of the Prison Service and its culture. In those circumstances, although these issues are operational matters for the Prison Service, it has to consider them as it looks for the appropriate way to run in the years ahead.

It was indeed rather telling that people who talk the talk of being inclusive (Mr Allister excepted) decided that symbols were so important, with the First Minister deciding today that he is even prepared to resign over the issue and force an election.

This ignores the fact that as can been seen at the top the Northern Ireland Prison Service already have adopted a post-devolution emblem that doesn't include the crown or the Queen's moniker. This isn't a new issue as the emblems have been moving forward anyway. Of course when the RUC (GC) was rebranded as the PSNI this all took place before policing and justice was devolved. But I turn once again to The Belfast Agreement which contains the following statement on policing and justice (emphasis mine):

The participants believe it essential that policing structures and arrangements are such that the police service is professional, effective and efficient, fair and impartial, free from partisan political control; accountable, both under the law for its actions and to the community it serves; representative of the society it polices, and operates within a coherent and co-operative criminal justice system, which conforms with human rights norms. The participants also believe that those structures and arrangements must be capable of maintaining law and order including responding effectively to crime and to any terrorist threat and to public order problems. A police service which cannot do so will fail to win public confidence and acceptance. They believe that any such structures and arrangements should be capable of delivering a policing service, in constructive and inclusive partnerships with the community at all levels, and with the maximum delegation of authority and responsibility, consistent with the foregoing principles. These arrangements should be based on principles of protection of human rights and professional integrity and should be unambiguously accepted and actively supported by the entire community.

We as a country need to acknowledge that some of the clinging to past emblems and structures is partisan politics, is not going to he acceptable to the entire community. It does not mean that we totally forget the past, but that we move on to a future that is truly shared.

Maybe it is time for Mr Robinson to get this into perspective and look at the main thrust of the final report and the crux of the issues that prison reforms need in Northern Ireland rather than focus on the cosmetics.

Céimeanna ar ais i iontas (Trans. Steps Back in Amazement)

The Queen opened her Speech in Dublin Castle on Wednesday night with the words "A Úachtaráin agus a cairde (President and friends)"

Well it appears that one politician in attendance has followed her example and somewhat shockingly it the DUP First Minister Peter Robinson. He said "Sin é*", meaning "That's it" at a press conference after the first meeting of the new Northern Ireland Executive.

Maybe there are hidden depths to our First Minister that none of us new about before.

Slán Peter. Maith thú.

* A correction from the Belfast Telegraph making it one word and no fada on the e, and thanks to Michael for correcting my SPG in the comments

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.