A significant day for democracy in Northern Ireland

[The Agrarian]

Today our assembly has been recalled for the first time in over 1000 days. Follow the developments here...

Abortion fight not over vows DUP's Arlene Foster as Assembly meeting descends into farce

DUP leader Arlene Foster described the introduction of new abortion legislation in Northern Ireland as a "shameful day".

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

No surprise that Republicans don't want to see democracy restored, but massively disappointing that the so-called cross community party, Alliance, has chosen to back up Sinn Fein in withholding the outworking of democracy from the people.

SHAME!!!

This is being blamed as a stunt, despite the fact that the recall petition was led by the very anti unionist Nuala O'Loan.

 

[glensman]

Today our assembly has been recalled for the first time in over 1000 days. Follow the developments here...

Abortion fight not over vows DUP's Arlene Foster as Assembly meeting descends into farce

DUP leader Arlene Foster described the introduction of new abortion legislation in Northern Ireland as a "shameful day".

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

No surprise that Republicans don't want to see democracy restored, but massively disappointing that the so-called cross community party, Alliance, has chosen to back up Sinn Fein in withholding the outworking of democracy from the people.

SHAME!!!

This is being blamed as a stunt, despite the fact that the recall petition was led by the very anti unionist Nuala O'Loan.

Can you back up the cliam that Nuala o'loan is "very anti unionist "?

 

[nivilla1982]

I suppose there was always a degree of suspicion on her motives given her marriage to an SDLP MLA/cllr in North Antrim whose views were at times extreme for the SDLP.
A stated opinion in an radio interview claiming to the effect that protestants in NI were all brought up not to trust those of the Roman Catholic faith.
The appearance of partisanship when in her role as the police ombudsman. It is noteworthy to remember that none of the unionist parities attended an official event to mark her retirement from the role. Neither did SF but at that stage they still hadn't got around to supporting the forces of law and order.

Regarding today's proceedings it highlights the ongoing farce that 1 party is able to block any move towards the formation of a functioning NI government apparently facilitated by the UK government when the remainder of the NI parities are willing to at least try and form a government without precondition.

 

[The Agrarian]

Its very, very hard to think of a criticism she has levelled at nationalists, Republicans, or the Irish state, yet criticisms of the British state, government and unionism roll off her tongue with regularity. Happy for you to point out anything I've missed.

Anyhow, that's a diversion from the business of the day. The point being, she couldn't be accused of setting this up for the DUP's benefit.

 

[glensman]

I suppose there was always a degree of suspicion on her motives given her marriage to an SDLP cllr in North Antrim whose views were at times extreme for the SDLP.
A stated opinion in an radio interview claiming to the effect that protestants in NI were all brought up not to trust those of the Roman Catholic faith.
The appearance of partisanship when in her role as the police ombudsman.

Regarding today's proceedings it highlights the ongoing farce that 1 party is able to block any move towards the formation of a functioning NI government apparently facilitated by the UK government when the remainder of the NI parities are willing to at least try and form a government without precondition.

I assume you are aware that she is English.

 

[nivilla1982]

I assume you are aware that she is English.

And?

 

[glensman]

And?

Were you and @The Agrarian aware of that? If you were not and thought she was from northern Ireland it may inform your perception of her at least somewhat.

 

[nivilla1982]

So there were DUP, UUP, TUV, SDLP and Claire Sugden the independent Unionist in the chamber. Declined to attend SF, Alliance, Green party and People Before Profit.

Series of points of order on how business can be conducted, arguments over legal advice on how the Assembly could sit etc.
SDLP first to walk out. Argument over election of a speaker and point of assembly when it could not form executive and other institutions
DUP next to walk out, Arguments over legal advice with the speaker about how proceedings could be conducted and failure to achieve a meaningful move towards restoring government.
UUP next to walk out, first removing their names from petition recalling assembly for tomorrow. Demand that SOS NI convene talks to see if there is any point in even attempting to restore Stormont

 

[nivilla1982]

Were you and @The Agrarian aware of that? If you were not and thought she was from northern Ireland it may inform your perception of her at least somewhat.

Yes I was aware she was born and educated in England, I was also aware of her having a career working in NI as a law lecturer from 1974 till her appointment as police ombudsman in 1999.

 

[glensman]

Yes I was aware she was born and educated in England, I was also aware of her having a career working in NI as a law lecturer from 1974 till her appointment as police ombudsman in 1999.

To be fair it was not you who made the "anti unionist " accusation which is an entirely different thing to anti union, which all seems a little unlikely for a English baroness.

 

[The Agrarian]

Were you and @The Agrarian aware of that? If you were not and thought she was from northern Ireland it may inform your perception of her at least somewhat.

I try to judge people on their merit. Place of birth doesn't have much impact on how I regard Corbyn or McDonnell.

 

[The Agrarian]

Or Paisley.

Or Trump.

 

[glensman]

I try to judge people on their merit. Place of birth doesn't have much impact on how I regard Corbyn or McDonnell.

That doesn't answer the the question though, I'm guessing you were not by the throw away nature of the comment.

 

[The Agrarian]

Well of course she does have a semi-english accent. I haven't spent any time whatsoever thinking about why she had that accent. It doesn't make a jot of difference to me. I'm disappointed you would think I'm that shallow. I suppose you think that's how all unionists would think.

 

[glensman]

Well of course she does have a semi-english accent. I haven't spent any time whatsoever thinking about why she had that accent. It doesn't make a jot of difference to me. I'm disappointed you would think I'm that shallow. I suppose you think that's how all unionists would think.

The comment in question struck me as shallow, which surprised me as I would think you are probably not. We all have our sub conscious bias though, myself included.

 

[The Agrarian]

So back on topic. Do you have a position on whether politicians should have preconditions to allowing democracy to proceed in Northern Ireland? Should politicians be allowed to have a veto on the democratic process?

 

[glensman]

So back on topic. Do you have a position on whether politicians should have preconditions to allowing democracy to proceed in Northern Ireland? Should politicians be allowed to have a veto on the democratic process?

No they should not, it's the antithesis of democracy. Having said that each member state in the Eu for instance has a veto protecting them from narrow majority rule, and we can see the chaos that has led to in the brexit referendum.

 

[The Agrarian]

We are in agreement then. As Theresa May said in parliament yesterday, I am not a fan of referenda. With the same token, a narrow majority to change the constitutional status of Northern Ireland would be an equally poor idea.

The holding hostage of democracy is an outrage. I don't care what the policy differences are between the parties. The place to thrash those things out is in the assembly. I'm in no small way enlivened on this, today in particular, as a result of my chat with a department employee this morning, who told me that three years ago the prep work was complete for a badger cull in three areas, one near me. It just needed the minister's signature to send it on it's way. And so I had to listen to him telling me that, in another dimension where democracy had prevailed, the department would soon have been working towards taking out small pockets of infected badgers, like the one that has infected my herd this summer.

 

[Boohoo]

So there were DUP, UUP, TUV, SDLP and Claire Sugden the independent Unionist in the chamber. Declined to attend SF, Alliance, Green party and People Before Profit.

Series of points of order on how business can be conducted, arguments over legal advice on how the Assembly could sit etc.
SDLP first to walk out. Argument over election of a speaker and point of assembly when it could not form executive and other institutions
DUP next to walk out, Arguments over legal advice with the speaker about how proceedings could be conducted and failure to achieve a meaningful move towards restoring government.
UUP next to walk out, first removing their names from petition recalling assembly for tomorrow. Demand that SOS NI convene talks to see if there is any point in even attempting to restore Stormont

Green party were there, they just wouldn't go into the chamber. SF and Alliance thought that stirring things up on Twitter was a better thing to do, Naomi would've been better putting pressure on SF but no, she'd rather try to score cheap points against the DUP. Absolutely no point trying to restore Stormont. Bring in direct rule and give the councils a bit more responsibility.

 

[M-J-G]

They should be removed from their jobs, these IRA sons of bitches have no place in a civilised society.